Registration number for short-term rentals in Spain and other EU countries: a new requirement for property owners and digital platforms on the Costa Blanca, the Costa de Valencia and the Costa Cálida.

In accordance with the new regulations designed to implement Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 of the European Parliament and Royal Decree 1312/2024 of 23 December 2024,

groundbreaking rules on short-term rentals are being introduced, which will come into force on 1 July 2025. The new rules, in line with Regulation (EU) No 2024/1028, aim to regulate the market and increase its transparency.

Who is affected by the new obligation to register properties?

In addition to the current requirement to obtain a tourist rental licence, every property intended for short-term rental must be registered in a specific registration system, which will enable it to be legally advertised. Property owners and operators of rental platforms, such as Airbnb or Booking, will be required to obtain a unique Registration Number. Without it, it will not be possible to legally advertise properties on digital platforms. This means that if you wish to rent out a property via these platforms, you must obtain this new property registration number.

What is short-term letting?

The new regulations will apply to properties rented for a short period, regardless of the reason for the tenant’s stay: tourism, business or education. This applies to both whole flats and houses.

Obligations of landlords and digital platforms

• Property registration: landlords must register their properties in the system and obtain a unique number, which will be mandatory for publishing listings.
• Verification of the registration number: digital platforms will not be able to publish property listings without a valid registration number.
• Obligation to report: data relating to the rental must be periodically transmitted to the relevant national and European Union institutions.

Consequences of failure to register

Landlords who fail to comply with the new requirements will face heavy financial penalties and the risk of their properties being removed from the market. Without registration and the unique number, landlords will lose the ability to publish their listings on popular platforms such as Airbnb or Booking. In practice, this means that letting out the property will be very difficult.

Platforms that advertise properties without a registration number may also face penalties. It is therefore clear that no platform such as Booking or Airbnb will allow a property to be listed without obtaining this number.

Objective of the regulations

The European Union and, consequently, the Spanish Government aim to exercise greater control over the short-term rental market, which will help to reduce illegal practices, improve safety for tourists and better manage tourist flows. The introduction of a central register will allow for more accurate monitoring of the situation and facilitate the planning of housing and tourism policies.

Consequently, the new regulations aim to regulate the short-term rental sector and increase the transparency of transactions

Property owners!

If you own a property for short-term rental or operate in this sector, you should start preparing now for the changes ahead.

The new regulations will come into force on 1 July 2025, so you must ensure that your listing complies with all legal requirements.

If you have any questions or need a contact number, please get in touch with us.