Ocaña (Toledo), Alhaurin el Grande (Malaga), Jodar (Jaen) and Riba-roja de Turia (Valencia) are the towns that have seen the biggest rent hikes between 2015 and 2022, according to the INE's Rental Housing Price Index (IPVA), with increases of more than 27% in all cases. The provincial capitals at the top of the list are Valencia (23.3%), Palma (21.8%) and Malaga (21.4%).
The National Statistics Institute (INE) publishes the pilot statistics on the Rental Housing Price Index (IPVA) based on data provided by the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) based on Form 100 of the Personal Income Tax returns. It, therefore, does not have data from the Navarre and Basque Country. It has only been publishing this report for three years and intends to continue publishing the data in each first quarter of the year, with the annual results for the previous two years.
On a national level, it states that prices in 2022 increased by 2.7% compared to 2021, with greater variations in the Balearic Islands (3.7%), the Valencian Community (3.6%) and the Canary Islands (3%), increasing in all autonomous communities. By provincial capitals, Valencia (4.4%), Malaga (3.8%) and Palma (3.7%) stood out in the year-on-year data for 2022.
But let's zoom in on a broader evolution of prices in towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants for the period between 2015 and the latest known data for 2022. In fact, the INE price index is based on 2015.
According to its data, after seven years of evolution in the 752 towns analysed, Ocaña (Toledo), Alhaurin el Grande (Malaga), Jodar (Jaen) and Riba-roja de Turia (Valencia) have seen the biggest rent hikes, with rises of over 27% and up to 29% in Ocaña and Alhaurin el Grande. On the other hand, three towns had lower prices in 2022 than in 2015, such as Palos de la Frontera (Huelva), Villamartin (Cadiz) and Berja (Almeria).
Five other towns – Albox ( Almeria), Seseña (Toledo), Las Cabezas de San Juan (Seville), Illescas (Toledo) and Moncada (Valencia) – still show rises of over 25%. A total of 69 towns showed increases of more than 20%, some of them as significant as Valencia (23.3%), Palma (21.8%) or Malaga (21.8%).
Only three provincial capitals are among the main rises recorded by the INE index, although there are other outstanding cities in each province, such as Sant Cugat del Vallès, Terrassa and Sabadell (Barcelona), Villanueva de la Cañada and Arroyomolinos (Madrid), Inca and Andratx (the Balearic Islands), Estepona and Benalmadena (Malaga), Sagunto and Mislata (Valencia) or the island capitals of Puerto del Rosario and Arrecife (Las Palmas).
Of these almost 70 towns with the highest rises, there are 18 towns in the province of Valencia, nine in Barcelona and Malaga, six in the Balearic Islands, five in Toledo, and up to seven on the Canaries – four in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and three in Las Palmas.
Málaga keeps its promise and suspends new tourist accommodation licences for three years
Málaga has taken a major step to balance its booming tourism sector with the local housing market. The city council has confirmed that it will suspend new licences for tourist accommodation for the next three years, following a promise made by Mayor Francisco de la Torre. This comes as part of a wider update to Málaga’s General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) and will remain in effect until new regulations are approved.
Differences between tourist rentals and seasonal lets in Spain
Discover the key differences between tourist rentals and seasonal lets in Spain, from legal requirements and contract lengths to taxation and tenant rights. Whether you're a property owner or tenant, understanding these distinctions is essential for making informed decisions in the Spanish rental market.
Community of owners to approve new Tourist Licences
Last 3rd of April 2025, Spain’s Horizontal Property Act was amended. This is the law that rules on community of owners in Spain.
Booking removes 4,000 Spain holiday rentals to comply with consumer laws
Booking.com has removed 4,093 tourist accommodation listings in Spain, most of which were in the Canary Islands, following a request from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda.
Andalusia to create police force to inspect illegal tourist flats
The President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, has announced the creation of the "Titan Group," a unit within the national police dedicated to monitoring and inspecting illegal tourist accommodation.
Could holiday rentals disappear in Spain?
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni has announced that the city will withdraw all 10,101 tourist accommodation licences by November 2028. The aim, according to the city council, is to free up homes for residential use and improve access to housing. However, the measure has sparked swift backlash from the sector, which sees it as a blow to a well-established economic model.
Country houses exempt from Spain's new tourist rental register
Rural houses already registered on regional tourism registries are exempt from the new Single Register of Short-Term Rentals starting 1 July. This was confirmed by the Spanish Rural Tourism Association (Asetur) after meetings with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda.