Tourexpi
Valencia cracks down on short-term rentals like Airbnb to avoid social problems
The
Spanish region of Valencia is cracking down on short-term tourism rentals,
passing new regulations for those listing on platforms like Airbnb on Friday.
The
new regulation aims to end years of “unorderly growth” and “avoid social
problems” that the sector can bring like “tourist-phobia” or problems in the
housing sector, Valencia’s conservative President Carlos Mazón said on
Thursday.
According
to data from the Valencia government, the number of registered tourist rentals
has more than doubled since 2015, now reaching 105,111.
The
new regulation aims to give more power to cities and neighborhood groups to
limit, inspect and fine short-term rentals to tourists.
It
also increases the maximum fine to €600.000 ($653,000) for illegal rentals,
including renting out one room within an apartment.
Even
though it is already illegal to rent out individual rooms, the government said
it detected a platform renting out around 5,000 rooms.
It
also foresees outlawing key boxes outside apartment buildings and will instead
require guests to be received in person.
Under
the new regulations, platforms and owners of rental apartments will also need
to undergo more bureaucratic hurdles and need to renew licenses every five
years.
Valencia’s
move comes after Barcelona — one of Spain’s other top tourism destinations —
recently announced that it will ban all short-term rentals by the end of 2028.
Other
cities in Spain, faced with protests regarding over-tourism, are also
tightening restrictions on the sector.
Valencia’s
new regulations hope to strike a balance between maintaining the economic
benefits of tourism without it becoming a problem.
“With
this legal framework, we provide security and certainty, and we move forward in
our model of sustainable tourism that does not renounce anything or condemn
anyone," said Mazón.
The
tourism sector makes up around 16% of Valencia’s GDP and employment, according
to government data.
Image
Credit: © AA
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