Following the announcement by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, of the measures he plans to take to solve the issue of housing, the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) has proposed to the Executive that a state policy for tourist use housing (VUT) be established.
They have also requested a state-level pact to address the housing problem in Spain, an issue that, according to the latest barometer from the Center for Sociological Research (CIS), is already the third biggest concern of Spaniards, with special incidence among young people.
CEHAT applauds Sánchez's words, who, among other things, pointed out that "there are too many AirBnBs and not enough homes" and that it is necessary "for tourist homes to be considered a business and taxed as an economic activity."
The President of the Government also announced that the regulation that pursues fraud in seasonal rentals will be tightened and a fund will be created for regional and municipal governments to reinforce inspections of illegal tourist homes.
The Confederation emphasizes, however, that "they have been demanding measures like these since the birth of digital platforms for temporary housing rentals and regrets the housing crisis that has been reached in Spain, which they point out has been the result of the lack of listening and the inaction that has been maintained in this regard during all this time."
In fact, the association recalls that "more than 10 years ago it warned about the negative consequences that the lack of regulation of the conversion of homes into temporary tourist accommodation would cause."
Among the measures proposed by CEHAT to increase the regulation of vacation homes are:
1. Specific urban planning qualification: "VUTs must constitute a differentiated urban planning category, regulated through urban planning or specific municipal regulations that delimit the areas and conditions of permitted use."
2. Compatibility with residential use: "The tourist use of homes will be compatible with residential use only if this is expressly established in the urban planning."
3. Requirement of community authorization: "In residential buildings subject to the Horizontal Property Law, the agreement of a qualified majority (3/5 of owners and quotas) is required to allow VUT activities."
4. Coexistence rules: "Communities must establish specific conditions for guests, including coexistence rules translated into several languages."
5. Limitation of the number of VUTs: "City councils may establish restrictions on the number of VUTs per building or area."
6. Special fees: "Possibility of applying additional fees for community expenses of homes intended for tourist activities."
7. Inspection and sanctions: "Regulation of the inspection regime, restoration of legality and sanctions to ensure compliance with regulations."
8. Controlled geographic concentration: "Regulations must avoid excessive concentration of VUTs in strategic areas to balance urban development and protect the quality of life of residents."
9. Labor protection of VUT workers: "Currently there is a lack of protection for workers, since this type of accommodation is not subject to any labor regulations."
Taking into account all of the above, CEHAT considers that "a State pact for housing is necessary, which applies measures that have had positive effects in many countries around us."
Likewise, the association urges that "a State policy regarding tourist housing be undertaken once and for all, delimiting the powers of state and regional legislation and coordinating a planning execution that allows the development of an economic activity that does not continue to produce negative externalities for all residents."