Spain brings in 'restriction' for UK tourists after 'unanimous vote'

James Rodger

24 June 2024 at 11:35 am·2-min read

British expats have been warned as one popular Spanish destination introduces strict new rules for visitors. Valencia City Council unanimously voted to freeze giving licences for tourist flats for a 12-month period, with the potential of increasing the restriction.

This freeze will mean that tourists are unable to temporarily rent an apartment floors within a block that is typically used by residents in any part of the city. The mayoress of the Valencian capital, María José Catalá, announced her team's decision to propose this temporary ban and take it to the plenary session.

In this meeting, the proposal promoted by the city council was approved by all the parties that make up the council – the Popular Party and Vox in the government and Compromís and PSPV-PSOE in the opposition. The suspension will affect temporary accommodation in regular blocks of flats and on commercial ground floors, but not entire tourist apartment buildings, providing accommodation similar to a hotel.

The measure will be extended to the whole city and districts El Palmar, El Saler and El Perellonet, Benimàmet, Carpesa, Poble Nou, and La Punta. The approved motion also intends to continue the Plan of Inspections of tourist flats initiated last summer by Catalá's team after taking over the local government, "focusing specifically" on "ground-floor flats".

It comes after local authorities in the Spanish city warned over "uncontrolled growth at the expense of the housing stock threatens to upset the balance that ensures that Valencia is a city worth living in, with a quality urban environment". It cited Venice "where practically everywhere has been taken over by tourists".

Town planning councillor, Juan Giner (PP), said: "We are giving Valencia a tourist regulation that puts neighbours and social harmony first, encourages the use of residential housing and establishes a firm legal security and clear rules of the game for all operators. This is our purpose and these are our actions."

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