Airbnb crackdown on Spain’s Costa del Sol: Major resort cancels 600 tourist flat licences and hikes up taxes

A MAJOR tourist town on the Costa del Sol has cancelled 600 licences for tourist accommodation. 

The affected properties will not be allowed to become Airbnb-style flats because they do not have a separate building entrance for their guests. 

Fuengirola announced the measure this week in a bid to ‘make tourist activity sustainable’ and ‘in harmony with the well-being of residents.’ 

It comes after a ruling from the Junta in February which amended the general urban development plan (PGOU). 

It gave town halls the power to deny requests for tourist accommodation licences if the homes in question did not have a separate entrance to the building. 

Fuengirola decided to crack down on the number of Airbnb-style lets after a recent study it commissioned found they were ‘placing pressure’ on residents’ ability to rent and buy homes.

Town planning councillor Rocio Arriaga said: “The council aims with this initiative, which is already widespread in other Spanish tourist municipalities, to make tourist activity sustainable, as a central axis of the economy, in harmony with the well-being of the residents. 

“This is within a quality model that continues to make the destination attractive and ensures the comfort of the residents.”

But the town hall has gone a step further and will make owners of tourist flats pay the same rate of tax as hotels, hostels and guesthouses, making the business slightly less profitable. 

It said in a statement that more measure could be brought in in the near future.