- The Spanish Ministry of Housing orders removal of 53,876 illegal tourist rental listings nationwide,including 7,499 in the Valencian Community.
- Platforms must delete ads for unregistered tourist flats by law from July 1st.
- Only 15.2% of tourist flats in the Valencian Community comply with new registration requirements.
- The initiative seeks to preserve social housing and reduce the impact of illegal short-term rentals on neighborhoods and residents.
- Main affected municipalities: Valencia, Torrevieja, Denia, Alicante, and Benidorm.
Spanish Government Orders Removal of nearly 7,500 Illegal Tourist Rentals in the Valencian Community
The Spanish Ministry of Housing has taken a major step to combat the widespread problem of illegal tourist rentals by ordering the removal of 7,499 unauthorized tourist flats from online platforms in the Valencian Community. This move is part of a broader national crackdown targeting a total of 53,876 illegal tourist rentals across Spain.
Why Are These Rentals Being Removed?
Since July 1st, all tourist rental properties in Spain are legally required to register and obtain a specific registration number to operate legally. The Ministry of Housing revealed that those 7,499 flats in the Valencian Community failed to comply with this mandatory registration process.
As a result, several digital platforms have been instructed to withdraw listings of these unregistered properties to ensure only legal rentals are promoted online. The goal is to redirect these housing units towards the residential rental market, helping to address housing shortages and protect community welfare.
The Digital Single Window and Registration Process
The government strengthened its regulations with the introduction of the Digital Single Window for Tourist accommodation (“Ventanilla Digital Única”), a platform where registrars, the Ministry, and online platforms share data to detect and remove illegal listings.
- Since january 1, 2025, over 336,000 registration applications have been processed nationally.
- Approximately 79% correspond to tourist rentals,of which 20.3% have been revoked due to incomplete or non-compliant applications.
- Nearly 14% of rejected applications are from the Valencian Community.
Impact on the Valencian Community
The Valencian region is the fourth moast affected area after Andalusia, Canary Islands, and Catalonia.
| Province | Rejected Tourist Rentals | Key Cities | Rejected Applications per City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante | 4,734 | Torrevieja, Denia, Alicante, Benidorm | 700 (Torrevieja), 538 (Denia), 528 (Alicante), 476 (Benidorm) |
| Valencia | 1,754 | Valencia City | 731 |
| Castellón | 1,011 | Castellón de la Plana | 45 |
Why Does this Matter?
Only 15.2% of tourist flats in the Valencian Community currently comply with the strict new registration laws, leaving a vast majority-84.8%-operating illegally by these standards.Even many properties with local or regional licenses do not meet the new national registry requirements.
The measure is grounded in the governmentS aim to preserve the social function of housing, by curbing the rise of illegal tourist flats which can displace long-term residents and affect local communities negatively.
National Context: A Broader Fight Against Illegal Rentals
The Valencian Community is part of a wider national effort that targets illegal tourist flats across Spain. Andalusia leads with 16,740 revoked requests, followed by the Canary Islands (8,698) and Catalonia (7,729).
- Seville tops the list of cities with revoked licenses (2,289), followed by Marbella, Barcelona, Málaga, and Madrid.
- These revocations signal non-compliance failures such as incomplete data or failure to meet legal requirements.
What’s Next?
Digital platforms are now mandated to remove advertisements for all unregistered tourist flats. This will reduce the number of illegal lodgings advertised online and promote clarity for tourists and housing markets alike.
Homeowners and property managers are encouraged to register their properties properly via the Digital single Window to continue operating legally.
key Takeaways
- Nearly 7,500 tourist flats in the Valencian Community must be removed from online listings due to registration non-compliance.
- Only a small portion (around 15%) of all tourist flats in the region meet the new legal registration requirements.
- The government aims to protect residents and ensure housing serves social needs by limiting the spread of illegal short-term rentals.
- The Digital Single Window system is central to enforcement and monitoring efforts.
For more detailed information, visit Levante-EMV.