The majority of people who own a holiday home on the Costa del Sol do not use it all the time. They tend to live abroad and visit for what tend to be rather varied frequencies and periods of time, but having bought the property and needing to maintain it, many use holiday rentals as a way of making the property work for them and earn income in the weeks and months that the home would otherwise stand empty. What do you need to know before you do the same?

If you’re not using your Marbella holiday home all the time yet carry bills for utility, maintenance, rates, taxes and potentially security and occasional repairs, then it makes sense to rent it out during those ‘empty’ months. Some people visit their second home frequently and only have weeks available on the rentals calendar – in which case you’re looking at earning enough money to cover the running costs of the home – while others only spend a few weeks a year here and can rent out the property for most of the calendar year.

In this case, the property actually becomes an asset that can earn you money, and with the Marbella rentals market more buoyant than ever, returns of 3-5% and even as high as 8% are being realised. To achieve this, the property has to be well-located, appealing, clean, well-maintained, attractively decorated and well-facilitated – ideally close to sports, leisure, shopping, nightlife and practical amenities. However, before you get going and start taking reservations there are a few regulations that each rental property has to comply with.

Holiday rental regulations in Andalucía

The holiday rental market was relatively unregulated until 2016, when the regional government (Junta de Andalucía) introduced new legislation to bring it in line with common practice in the rest of the country. In this report we discuss only those pertaining to short-term holiday rentals, not long-term residential lets, and the regulations in question apply to both individual rooms rented out in bed & breakfast homes, and full residences rented out for holiday stays.

Regardless of whether you’re also residing in the property, as in the case of a B&B, the same rules apply, and the maximum occupancy capacity for this kind of holiday rental is set at 15 beds for individual properties and six beds for B&Bs, with a maximum of four beds per room.

If your property and rental intention falls within either of these two categories, you will need to list it with the Registry of Tourism of Andalucía (RTA), who through the regional government will issue a rental occupancy license. Once this is done, you have a year to comply with the following rules.

A holiday rental property requires:

• An occupancy license for a safe and fully functioning property
• Rooms that are ventilated directly from the outside, with curtains or shutters to cut out sunlight
• Furnishing, equipment and appliances as per standard requirement
• Bed linen, upholstery and household goods as per standard requirement
• Operating instructions of electrical appliances and other technical devices
• Information regarding community rules, facilities, admission of pets and any possible restrictions for smokers
• A telephone contact number and immediate response service for queries or problems
• Mounted air-conditioning – a requirement for properties rented out from May to September
• Mounted heating – a requirement for properties rented out from October to April
• A first aid kit
• Wi-Fi
• Comprehensive cleaning before and after every stay
• A Complaints and Claims Sheet
• Tourist information about the area

Naturally, all the above is only applicable if you charge your guests, and you have a year to get it all in order, during which time the property cannot be commercially rented out.

Other exemptions include longer-term stays, starting at two consecutive months, homes in rural areas and in cases where the owner lives next door or within a one-kilometre radius.

Failure to comply with the above regulations can result in serious fines, ranging from €2000-€18.000. However, once properly registered, fitted and equipped, your Marbella rental home can become an excellent source of revenue that not only covers the costs of ownership but actually provides a source of income – i.e. a pretty lucrative investment.

You can go it alone and manage the whole process yourself, from bookings and arranging cleaning to concierge services and dealing with potential enquiries or issues, but this can be cumbersome especially if you are not in Spain or do not speak the language. To enjoy the full benefits of a holiday rental property in Marbella without the worry and work, it is advisable to hire a professional rentals and property management company that will combine security and convenience with optimising your income and making sure your home is in perfect shape when you want to use it yourself.

Contact Esenzia Homes for more details about successful holiday rentals in Marbella