The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has announced he will introduce the Special Plan for the Protection of Residential Areas in the City of Madrid. This plan will prohibit tourist rentals scattered within residential communities in the historic centre. It will also permit converting privately used buildings in central Madrid into residential properties, provided they are allocated for affordable housing.
According to Almeida, the goal is to “create more housing in central Madrid and establish definitive regulations for tourist rentals (VUT).”
"At the same time, we will allow an increase in buildable area to transform buildings into residential ones. Unlike others, who focus on self-interest and protecting sexual offenders, we prioritise protecting Madrid’s residents and creating housing policies for the city," stated the mayor during the City Council’s plenary session.
Commercial premises cannot be converted into tourist accommodation
He added that converting commercial premises into tourist accommodation will be prohibited to “preserve” neighbourhood identity and support small and medium-sized businesses.
In subsequent statements, the mayor explained that this policy would also permit an increase in the building capacity of non-residential properties, allowing them to be transformed into residential use. This plan is aimed at generating affordable housing in the city centre and establishing clear regulations for illegal tourist rentals.
“This Government is committed to improving access to housing for Madrid residents and providing a solution to illegal tourist accommodation,” he stated.
