Spain has moved decisively to take about 53,000 illegal tourist flats out of official registers as part of a wider crackdown driven by concerns over overtourism, housing shortages, and the need to protect residents in heavily touristed areas. The action reflects rising pressure from locals in cities and coastal regions who feel squeezed by short-term rentals pushing up rents and reducing available housing for long-term tenants.
Andalusia, which has seen one of the highest numbers of delisted units, leads in implementing the removal. Spanish authorities argue the measure is essential to restoring balance between tourist accommodation and permanent housing options.
Many of the delisted flats were operating without proper registration or licencing, in violation of regional regulations. Regions in Spain have legal frameworks for tourist rentals, often requiring hosts to register units and comply with standards for safety, tenancy, and taxation.
These unlicensed flats typically avoid such oversight, contributing to irregularity in housing data, uncontrolled market pressures, and inconsistent consumer protection. By removing them from registers, local governments seek to ensure that only properties meeting required legal conditions benefit from the tourist-flat economy.
Impact on the Permanent Rental Market
One key aim of this policy is to increase the supply of long-term rentals. When apartments are continually used for short stays or tourist accommodation, they often remain empty outside busy tourism periods, or are less available for locals seeking ordinary housing. With fewer units in the short-term rental pool, more properties could return to permanent tenancy. This, in turn, could help stem rising rents. In many Spanish cities, housing cost increases have outpaced wage growth, contributing to affordability crises for many residents.
Another outcome many hope for is improved living quality for neighborhoods. Areas saturated with tourist flats often suffer from noise, constant turnover of tenants, and pressure on local infrastructure and services. Delisting illegal flats helps reduce such pressures and restores consistency in community life. It also strengthens the ability of residents to find stable homes without competition from high-earning short-term rental operators.
Enforcement, Challenges, and Broader Implications
Implementing the delisting requires coordination between regional governments, local councils, registry authorities, and rental platforms. Authorities must identify which flats are unlicensed, monitor compliance, and enforce registration laws. Platforms listing properties often share data, though not always fully or reliably, which complicates enforcement efforts. Some property owners resist delisting, citing losses in income or concerns over fairness. Others question how long the transition period will take given many flats have been operating under the radar for years.
This move also ties into a wider European conversation about balancing tourism and resident needs. At TravelCapybara, we’ve explored how Europe’s new overtourism measures in 2025 are reshaping rental markets and visitor experiences. Spain’s policy sits within that context – cities from Amsterdam to Venice are experimenting with tourist taxes, caps on short-term rentals, or new rules to protect housing supply. Spain’s decision to delist thousands of flats shows how such measures are shifting from debate to action.
For travelers and short-term visitors, the immediate effect may be fewer unregistered options or informal flats offered through non-official channels. But for communities and people living in affected areas, the shift could mean improved housing access, lower rental inflation, and more secure long-term tenancy options. In summary, Spain’s decision signals a strong commitment to curbing overtourism, rebalancing housing availability, and enhancing living conditions for its residents. While challenges in enforcement remain, the policy could mark a turning point in how tourist accommodation is managed against the needs of permanent housing.
