‘Our paradise is now a nightmare’: Locals in Malaga fume after their luxury tower blocks become home to 110 tourist flats

RESIDENTS in a pair of tower blocks in Malaga are up in arms over the proliferation of tourist apartments that they claim create a ‘living hell.’ 

With over 110 tourist apartments out of 252 units in the Martirico towers – almost half – a group of residents from the south tower recounted to SUR their despair and frustrations with the behaviour of the tourists.

The recent partial evacuation of the building due to a fire extinguisher being sprayed by tourists from an apartment on the 17th floor has been the latest source of anger.

“It’s become a living hell,” one resident said. “We’re losing our quality of life because of these tourist apartments.”

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Residents who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals from tourist flat landlords in their buildings said they had invested heavily to purchase what they thought would be their dream homes.

But instead they find themselves powerless in the face of late-night parties, security breaches, and aggressive behaviour. 

“We moved here for peace, but it’s become a nightmare,” said one anonymous resident.

“One of the neighbours complained about a tourist apartment and her car lock was broken that night,” another said.

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“Another has told us that she is going to sue us for being racist and xenophobic, and we are already going through enough to have to put up with this. 

“They told us that if their apartments were not tourist apartments, they would put squatters in. Imagine the level of tension there is here.”

The residents, now numbering over 50, have rallied to fight back and are seeking to have the tourist apartments removed from the building and advocating for stricter regulations.

And if that doesn’t work, they will go to court.

“We are willing to risk everything,” one said.