Summary
- Torrevieja’s City Council aims to gain authority to inspect and fine illegal tourist rental properties (VUT).
- Request is based on Article 98.2 of Valencian Decree Law 9/2024, recently approved to improve control of tourist accommodations.
- Cities like Valencia, Benidorm, and others have already agreed to this transfer of sanctioning powers from regional government to local councils.
- Alicante has yet to join due to lack of sufficient urban planning staff, while police forces in other towns are expected to lead enforcement.
- New local police recruitment in torrevieja will prioritize compliance with this new decree to enhance safety and regulation.
- Tourism rental sector is vital to Torrevieja’s economy, with 69% of homes classified as secondary residences, underlining need for firm regulation.
Torrevieja Joins Valencia and Benidorm to Crack Down on Illegal Tourist Rentals
The local government of Torrevieja has announced plans to boost control over the booming sector of viviendas de uso turístico (VUT) or tourist rental housing in the city. Mayor Eduardo Dolón revealed that the City Council will formally request authorization from the Generalitat Valenciana to exercise sanctioning powers against illegal tourist homes under the recently approved Decree Law 9/2024. This move follows commitments already made by other key Valencian cities, including Valencia, Benidorm, Faura, and others, to take a more active role in regulating VUTs.
Background: Why Decree Law 9/2024 Matters
Tourist rentals have become a meaningful part of the housing and tourism landscape in Torrevieja and across the Valencian Community. The Decree Law 9/2024, enacted on August 2, provides a new legal framework that grants local authorities the right to inspect, fine, and regulate tourist housing-an area previously controlled almost exclusively by regional government inspectors.
- Previously, only the Generalitat Valenciana held sanctioning powers.
- Shortage of regional inspectors hampered enforcement efforts, allowing illegal tourist rentals to proliferate.
- The new law allows local councils to request delegation of sanctioning powers under strict legal guidelines.
Torrevieja’s Request for Delegated Powers
At a recent Residential Tourism Forum organized locally, Mayor Dolón explained the City Council’s intention to ask for these powers citing the sector’s importance in Torrevieja’s economy. According to the national Institute of Statistics (INE), 69% of homes in the municipality are secondary residences, many of which are used as tourist rentals.
Key points about Torrevieja’s plan:
- Request to be submitted under Article 98.2 of Decree Law 9/2024 to the Generalitat Valenciana.
- Approval will require endorsement from the City Council’s Plenary session, according to local government law.
- Once approved, the city will have authority to issue fines and conduct inspections related to VUTs.
Enforcement and Local Police Role
Torrevieja recently onboarded 40 new local police officers,with their key mission being enforcement of rental regulations under the new legal framework. Mayor Dolón emphasized the necessity of these measures for public safety and legal order in the city’s residential and tourism sectors.
Unlike Torrevieja, the nearby city of Alicante has not joined this initiative yet, primarily due to insufficient urban planning staff to manage inspections. Other municipalities, such as Benidorm and Valencia, are expected to enforce the rules via their local police forces.
What This Means for Tourists and Locals
The new regulatory powers aim to:
- Reduce illegal tourist rentals operating without proper licenses.
- Protect residents from nuisances caused by unregulated tourist use.
- Ensure fair competition between legal rental operators and those circumventing regulations.
- Increase municipal revenues through collected fines that will be reinvested locally.
Decree Law 9/2024 At a Glance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| authority Transfer | Allows municipalities to request sanctioning powers over tourist rentals. |
| Sanction Powers | Includes ability to open cases for minor, serious, and very serious infractions. |
| Inspection | Functions of inspection and compliance delegated to local police and officials. |
| Revenue | Fines collected remain with local municipalities for reinvestment. |
Looking Ahead
As the Valencian government encourages local cooperation to clamp down on illegal tourist housing, cities like Torrevieja are taking active steps to protect their residential fabric and tourism economy.The success of this initiative will depend on the timely delegation of powers and the capacity of local forces to enforce the rules efficiently.
For tourists, this means a better-regulated market with safer stays. For residents, it means a more peaceful surroundings and increased respect for local housing laws.
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