What You Need to Know About The New Holiday Rental Regulations coming to Andalucía 2025
From April 2025, property owners in Costa Ballena Golf & Beach Resort and across Andalucía will face new regulations regarding tourist rental apartments and holiday lets. Under Organic Law 1/2025, any owner wishing to rent out their property as a short-term holiday let must first seek approval from their community of owners (Comunidad de Propietarios).
Community Approval Required for Holiday Lets
The new regulations, which come into effect on April 3, 2025, introduce a voting requirement for holiday rentals within residential buildings. Property owners will need to obtain approval from at least three-fifths of the total number of owners and participation quotas before registering their property for tourist accommodation.
This change reflects concerns over the impact of short-term rentals on residential communities and aims to establish a better balance between tourism and local residents.
Stronger Powers for Communities of Owners
The new legislation follows two Supreme Court rulings in October 2024, which reinforced the authority of communities of owners to regulate tourist rentals. If a three-fifths majority votes against short-term rentals, the community has the power to halt all tourist activity within the building.
Additionally, the community president can act independently or respond to complaints from residents by requesting that an owner cease holiday rental operations. If an owner does not comply, the community can take legal action to enforce the decision.
Tourism Growth and Rising Housing Pressures
Andalucía remains one of Spain’s most visited regions, welcoming 36.2 million tourists in 2024—a 5.5% increase compared to the previous year. While this growth has benefited local businesses and services, it has also led to increased housing demand, making it harder for residents to find affordable long-term rentals.
Similar measures have already been introduced in Málaga, where authorities have placed a ban on new holiday let registrations in 43 neighbourhoods to control the density of short-term rentals.
What This Means for Property Owners in Costa Ballena
For those already renting out properties as holiday lets in Costa Ballena, it will be essential to secure the support of neighbours to continue operating. Property owners planning to register a new tourist apartment will now have to navigate an approval process before they can offer short-term rentals.
At the same time, communities of owners will have greater control over maintaining the residential character of their buildings and a legal framework to address non-compliance.
With these changes on the horizon, property owners in Costa Ballena should prepare by reviewing their community statutes, engaging with neighbours, and staying informed on how the new rules may impact their rental business.