People return to a hotel, restaurant, shop or beach club, and also to rental apartments, when they were so pleased with the experience that they would like to repeat it. For this reason, you can be very pleased with yourself when it happens to you – firstly because you’ve done an excellent job and secondly because now you can reap the rewards of your hard work in the form of a higher revenue margin.

You see, when it comes to accommodation bookings, the big platforms through which the majority of reservations are made – be it in hotels or private properties – charge a commission of between 15-20%, and this comes off the bottom line of the property owner and operator who manages the rental and service process for them. In other words, direct bookings produce more revenue that doesn’t have to be shared with third parties.

Since repeat business usually takes the form of a direct booking with the venue itself, it equates to a more profitable way of doing business, even if you offer the client a discount to share the benefit with them. Moreover, repeat business and direct bookings are a product of and/or beginning of a personal relationship between the client and the brand and its staff on the ground, and this can form the basis of a growing loyalty programme that encourages customers to become more closely associated with you brand, products/resorts and the service and above all discount, special offers and upgrades that you can offer as the company operating hotels and residential resorts.

Esenzia is a specialist operator of residential resorts with a track record that goes back over a decade and at its first managed resort Aloha Hill Club up to a third of all holiday stay bookings fall under the category of repeat business – a clear indication that both the resort and its management/presentation as well as the on-site amenities, service and price/quality ratio are favoured by a very high percentage of those who have stayed at the resort. This appeal is further enhanced by the fact that Esenzia can also offer these guests accommodation and the same level of personal service in a growing range of other residential resorts on the Costa del Sol – all grown from a job well done!

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Aloha Hill Club, Nueva Andalucía

Esenzia has grown out of the highly successful management model that residents and guests at Aloha Hill Club have been enjoying for over a decade now. Owners of the spacious and well-appointed apartments and penthouses here enjoy not only wonderful country and sea views, but also a manned reception with friendly staff who manage the complex and provide a range of concierge services. 

As a result of being onsite, the beautiful gardens of Aloha Hill Club are in perfect condition, as are the communal areas, the swimming pools, high-quality gymnasium, spa and covered swimming pool. Together, these amenities and the proximity to fantastic country routes for jogging, hiking and mountain biking make this residential resort in the hills above Nueva Andalucía highly popular with holidaymakers as well as fitness groups and professional sportsmen and women. There is even a wonderful poolside restaurant!

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:

• Minutes away from the Aloha, Las Brisas and Los Naranjos courses that make this the Golf Valley of Southern Europe
• Peaceful setting yet close to Puerto Banús, beaches and Marbella
• Full sports and fitness amenities popular with professional sportsmen and women
• Poolside restaurant
• Spacious, well-appointed apartments and penthouses with panoramic terraces
• Reception with personal management and concierge services

Ayana, Estepona East

Situated near the beach on the eastside of Estepona, Ayana is an exclusive modern residential resort with five-star amenities such as parkland gardens, swimming pools, a poolside chiringuito bar, high-end gym and spa, as well as a restaurant and lounge with coworking area. This is quality living close to the beaches, golf courses and historic centre of Estepona, which also boasts stylish beach clubs, and of course Ayana offers not only first-class modern apartments and penthouses for luxury accommodation, but also a fully staffed reception and concierge.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:

• Stylish modern properties, some with jacuzzi/plunge pool and outdoor kitchen areas
• Sea views close to the beach
• Proximity to Estepona town and Marbella
• Luxury landscaping and communal areas
• Swimming pools, chiringuito pool bar, spa and gym
• Clubhouse with restaurant, lounge and coworking area
• Staffed reception with concierge services

Alma, La Cala

La Cala is a large area located a short distance east of Marbella, also close to Fuengirola. It features pretty beaches set within coves, the pretty village seaside village of La Cala de Mijas, the golf courses of La Cala Golf Resort and the stylish beach clubs and leisure zones of Marbella East. Alma is a boutique development of apartments and penthouses in the hills overlooking this entire coastal region. The panoramic terraces of the stylish modern apartments and penthouses at Alma enjoy incomparable views, which can also be enjoyed from the beautiful pool deck.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:

• Five-star boutique development
• Spectacular coastal views
• Privacy close to everything
• Near golf, sports and leisure facilities
• Super elegant pool deck

The Esenzia-managed resorts offer a broad range of settings and amenities, each with its own character and appeal, but all operated to the same high Esenzia standards of service, maintenance and detail.

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A number of factors have colluded to make the Spanish real estate market a challenging one – for locals. Many, especially younger people, are being priced out of a market where shortage of housing stock is a serious problem that restricts the choice of properties in many locations as well as driving both rental and purchase prices beyond the means of a large percentage of the population.

Many can’t get on to the property ladder and live with their parents well into their thirties. This shortage of homes is due to a number of factors:

• The scarcity of affordable housing built over the past 30 years
• The influx of immigrants (500.000 – 1.000.000 per year since the turn of the century)
• The presence of foreign buyers that account for up to 15% of all property purchases in Spain and whose greater economic power helps to push prices up
• The acquisition of a large number of properties by private individuals and funds for use as short term holiday rental accommodation

The lack of action on the part of authorities over the past two decades – for instance in the form of proper residential/rental zoning restrictions – has allowed the situation to get out of hand. Now rental prices have also risen to a level where local residents and foreign workers can no longer compete, and prices have risen to the point where apartments are shared between different individuals and sometimes even couples or families.

In an attempt to deal with this situation, as well as the occupation of homes by so-called ‘okupas’ in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, the authorities both regional and national have enacted a series of laws and regulations that protect homeowners by streamlining and speeding up the process of evicting illegal occupants, while on the other hand making the management of holiday rental homes more complicated.

Besides having to request a tourist license that allows them to rent out their home to tourists for short stays, homeowners will also have to meet official requirements in terms of the equipping of the property, provide accounts and deal with the possibility that the community of owners votes against short stay guests and bans holiday rentals altogether. 

All of this makes it increasingly difficult and labour intensive to rent out your property yourself, especially if you live abroad and can’t always stay up to date with Spanish and regional Andalusian regulations, and for this reason a growing number of homeowner are turning to professional companies that the know-how, resources and dedicated operational setup to navigate the process securely as well as offering safe vetting of guests, collecting and returning of deposits, effective channel marketing, cleaning, maintenance and concierge services, as well as property inspections, furniture replacements and much more, all aimed at providing a five-star service to guests and optimal returns combined with convenience for homeowners.

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The latest ruling is a modification of the existing Horizontal Property Law, which sets out the regulations regarding apartment blocks and residential community relations. According to the new law, an owner of a property in an apartment complex can only use it for holiday rentals if at least 60% of owners (in number and/or their ownership shares) vote to allow short-term lets within the community. Those who continue to rent out their properties to tourists in urbanisations that have voted against it can face legal action.

After April 3^rd 2025

People who managed to obtain the required tourist license before 3^rd April 2025 are exempt from the new ruling, but it applies to everybody else. In another twist, communities are also empowered to raise the community fees of properties being rented to tourists by up to 20%, a measure introduced as a levy on the extra ‘wear and tear’ on communal facilities such as lifts, swimming pools, etc.

The measures don’t affect long-term rentals, but it stands to reason that those properties with an existing tourist license have risen in value relative to those that don’t have it, as well as that homeowners keen on renting out their holiday homes for short-term lets are facing an increasingly difficult regime. The likes of Airbnb and Booking.com, for instance, will have to show official property identifiers on all their listings, or be removed within 48 hours.

The new law therefore makes holiday rentals more cumbersome for private owners, pushing investors towards aparthotels, buying apartments with an existing tourist license and/or within a residential community with resort amenities that is operated by a specialist company such as Esenzia, which besides taking care of all the required licenses and documentation also manages the community. Esenzia advises developers on how to create the best structure for communities of owners and also provides a professional reception, concierge and property and rental management service that allows for a smooth, professional operation with no negative impact for residents.

“Our staff is on-site to manage amenities such as the spa, gym, reception, swimming pool areas and also restaurants and coworking spaces. We do this for residents and guests, and we’re also there to receive arriving visitors, vet potential rentals beforehand and also ensure that the community’s rules are adhered to – by homeowners as well as their guests,” says Carmen Román, Operations Manager for Esenzia at Ayana, one of the residential resorts it operates. 

In this way, property owners maintain the chance of earning a return on their holiday home if they don’t live there permanently and also don’t miss out on the fact that homes with a tourist license tend to be worth 15-25% more. “It works for all involved, is managed transparently and professionally, and offers a win-win solution to what is an increasingly difficult situation for private homeowner looking to earn income through short-term holiday rentals.”

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New Legislation

The Spanish government has now (finally) introduced significant amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act to address the squatting issue more effectively, resulting in the following 

• Fast-Track Evictions – the new law, approved on December 19, 2024, introduces a “fast trial” process for cases of trespassing (allanamiento de morada) and property usurpation (usurpación de vivienda). This reform aims to resolve such cases within approximately 15 days, a substantial improvement over the previous average timeframe of two years

• Judicial Efficiency – by streamlining procedures related to illegal occupations, the reform enhances the efficiency of the Public Justice Service, ensuring swifter resolutions for property owners
• Legal Framework – the expedited eviction process is governed by the Civil Procedure Law (LEC), whose latest revisions specifically address illegal property occupations

A notable aspect of the reform is its approach to cases involving squatters with dependent minors. Previously, economic vulnerability or the presence of children could significantly delay eviction processes, in many cases resulting in occupants being granted ‘squatters rights’ until the youngest minor reached the age of 18. Under the new law, such factors no longer impede the expedited eviction process, which must be resolved within a maximum of 15 days.

Moreover, the  ‘48-hour rule’ ensures swift action once property owners report an illegal occupation. The new law gives the police authority to evict squatters without a court order. This underscores the importance of prompt action upon discovering unauthorised occupants and helps to avoid a ‘fait-accompli’ situation after which it used to be more difficult to ensure evictions.

Implications for Property Owners

After years of disequilibrium, the new legislative changes represent a significant shift in favour of property owners, providing them with more robust tools to combat illegal occupation. By reducing the legal complexities and timeframes previously associated with eviction processes, the reforms aim to deter squatting and protect property rights more effectively.​

Spain’s new anti-squatter laws mark a pivotal development in addressing the challenges posed by illegal property occupations. Property owners are encouraged to stay informed about these changes and take prompt action if faced with illegal occupants, but at long last the law now protects the rights of property owners in Spain – also making long-term lets more attractive, as even legal tenants could previously not be evicted if they stopped paying rent. The new legislation makes it possible to turn off utilities until the outstanding rent is paid or the tenants leave, thus marking a welcome new environment for homeowners and investors.

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Renting out a holiday home on the Costa del Sol can be lucrative. There is a lot of demand for quality holiday rental properties, but it comes with a set of legal requirements that owners who let out private homes must adhere to. Understanding these regulations is crucial to avoiding problems with the authorities and ensuring a smooth and financially rewarding rental operation. 

Registration and Licensing

The first step required is to have your accountant or lawyer check that your property has a Licencia Turística (a tourist licence that allows you to rent it out commercially). If not, they can check if one can be applied for and obtained, and as such a document adds value to your property it is a good idea to get one.

The next step is to register the property with the Registro de Turismo de Andalucía (RTA). This registration is mandatory and applies to all types of holiday rentals, including apartments, villas, and houses, and paves the way for the fully legal renting out and promoting of your holiday home. Once registered, it will be assigned a unique registration number that must be included in all promotional material and advertisements, as this reference number certifies that your property complies with local regulations.

Property Standards

With the paperwork sorted, you have to prepare the property itself. Regional Andalusian law sets out specific standards that holiday rentals must meet. These include providing air conditioning if the home is rented out during the hot summer months, heating for the winter, and adequate ventilation in all rooms. Additionally, properties must be fully furnished and equipped with essential items such as kitchenware, bedding and cleaning supplies. Safety features such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are also required, as are free WIFI and information about the property (including appliance manuals) and the surrounding area.

Contracts and Insurance

Property owners must provide guests with a formal rental agreement, which outlines the terms of the stay, including check-in and check-out times, house rules, payment and cancellation policies. It is  also advisable to have comprehensive insurance that covers any potential damage to the property or injury to guests, as well as to take security deposits that are returned once the property passes inspection after renting out.

Taxes and Legal Compliance

Holiday rental income is subject to Spanish income tax, and owners must declare this income in their tax returns. Additionally, non-resident owners may be subject to specific tax obligations in Spain. It is recommended to consult with a local tax advisor to ensure full compliance with all tax laws, and adhering to these legal requirements not only ensures compliance but also enhances the credibility and attractiveness of your holiday rental in Andalucía, ensuring you can market it with full confidence.

Making it successful

Any undertaking that involves making income should be structured and managed as a business – in a professional manner. Approach it this way and you will maximise your income and minimise the possibility of damage or problems. When it comes to maximising your income, a simple base formula exists that also applies to the hotel industry, which is: optimal ADR (Average Daily Rate) x optimal occupancy levels = optimal income.

That is to say, if you can achieve the highest possible price level for the renting out of your property (within its category) and also the highest possible level of occupancy during those weeks/months that it is available for rent, you will maximise your income potential. Making this happen depends upon three main factors:

1. Offering an attractive property for rent in an attractive location
2. Good marketing
3. High quality service that produces repeat business

Optimal security is provided by professional management – usually by a specialist company dedicated to this sector – and it takes the form of vetting clients carefully, having the right kind of insurance coverage, taking deposits and inspecting the property thoroughly before deposits are returned. This is a hands-on job best left to specialised professionals.

Preparation

As with all solid business enterprises, it pays to be well-informed and to know the market you’re in. Preparation is therefore an important part of the process, and it usually begins with an analysis of the market and understanding of the competition. This indicates the strength of the market, seasonal variations and opportunities, provides inspiration and ideas from what others are doing and 

High-low season and how it affects Marbella rental earnings

One of the most important things to do when you put your property on the holiday rental market is setting the right price – and understanding how the seasonal variations work. To determine the ADR, you have to bear two things in mind: 1) the seasonal variations, and 2) how your property compares with other similar ones. In other words, to compete successfully you will not want to set your price much above those of similar alternatives, while also not wanting to drop too far below.

Remember that optimal income from holiday rentals comes from the combination of two factors: a good rate and optimal occupancy. Combined they produce the best returns, so when the price is just right and your location and marketing are good, you will also enjoy high occupancy.

Benchmarking

Studying the price of nearby and similar spec properties is a research exercise called benchmarking, and it will give you a clear idea of the pricing range within which you can work. Firstly, compare your property with similar ones in the broader area, and see what they charge, then do the same with regard to properties in your location, focusing on similar ones.

Once you know what a same spec holiday home in your area goes for, you’re ready to set your price, but now you also have to bear the seasonal variations in mind. Different destinations have different high and low seasons. For ski resorts winter is high, summer low – for beach resorts like the Costa del Sol it is the other way around, for city destinations the variation tends to be lower, and in areas with attractions such as golf it runs from September to May.

Knowing when there are holidays and school holidays in your main markets also helps to adjust prices effectively. For a Marbella property July to September is the absolute high summer season, and the rest of the year lower season, as there no longer is a ‘dead’ part of year. Within the lower season, the periods closer to summer (September and May-June) enjoy a mid-level, and there are also seasonal holiday-based peaks such as Christmas and Easter to bear in mind, as well as the fact that you may have to offer some incentives in January and February.

With the above and a good marketing strategy, you’re ready to tap into a strong market.

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The case if therefore made for good maintenance of individual homes and the complex in general, and this is even more important when a residential complex has a good list of leisure amenities such as communal gardens, swimming pools, tennis or paddle courts, indoor swimming pools, jacuzzis, saunas, steam baths, gyms and coworking spaces and/or clubhouse restaurants. Facilities of this kind are being offered more and more as they are highly appealing, but the more amenities the more managing and maintenance they require, and many is the community on the Costa del Sol where such facilities have fallen into disrepair and are no longer available to residents. Indeed, this is far more common than you’d imagine.

What is takes

What it takes is professional management dedicated to keeping gardens and communal areas well maintained, ensuring there are eyesores and practical problems such as leakages, broken lights, drainage issues, broken plasterwork or any of a range of other potential issues. This is achieved through routine inspections, providing a well-managed and controlled budget for maintenance and, if required, a proper procedure for reporting problems, having them confirmed by professionals, receiving various quotes and managing and repairs and the accompanying quality control. Regular upkeep prevents problems from becoming big and costly, and maintains a high standard that feeds back through property value and rental rates.

It also improves safety, avoids deterioration and destruction of your property and investment, and of course improves the experience of living or visiting your home on the Costa del Sol. Cleaning, gardening and regular servicing of infrastructures such as heating/cooling, ventilation, drainage, electrics, water supply and waste systems, not to mention electronic ones such as sensor-activated lights, remote controls and security gates and alarms helps to keep a residential community functioning well and looking great. 

Esenzia is a company that specialises in providing this kind of management with a view to cost-efficiency, regulatory compliance and day-to-day property and complex management. In larger and very high-end communities, we can also provide on-site staff that manage the process on site and are also available to homeowners and their guests. Smaller than hotel operators yet bigger and better equipped than conventional property management companies, our service is a perfect fit for today’s luxury lifestyle homes and the residential communities they form part of.

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To provide the right kind of service, day in day out, requires the specialist resources and know-how of a company with hands-on experience.

Esenzia has been managing residential resorts for over 15 years. We advise developers on how best to present their offering, working from a knowledge base built up through direct interaction with homeowners and their guests-

Currently, we have over 300 properties under operation where our on-site teams manage the community amenities and provide a full range of services that include staffed reception, full support for homeowners and their guests, as well as property management, concierge and professional rental management.

We are your service team on the ground – offering a personal service tailored to your needs

The new home experience

There has been a change in how homes and living in locations such as the Costa del Sol are perceived.

Where once a Marbella property was just that, a home, today it is an expression of style and opens the door to the lifestyle that is the culmination of a dream. Today, the Marbella way of life begins at home.

The private villa or luxury apartment complex has evolved in a resort complete with five-star amenities such as spa, in and outdoor pools, gymnasium, restaurant, coworking space and manned reception. An integral part of this is the efficient and seemingly effortless management and provision of personalised services by an on-site team, led by an experienced Operations Manager.

This is where the new lifestyle begins.

From home to resort

The transformation from home to resort living focuses upon luxurious amenities, but these are nothing without professional management and the services that come with them. 

In other words, the beautifully styled and decorated modern property with its high-tech facilities is the home base from which to enjoy on-site resort luxury that is itself the stepping stone to all that a location such as Marbella and its surroundings have to offer.

Having access to a very high standard of services forms the basis for this lifestyle, through the following elements:

• Property Management – the convenience and peace of mind of having a skilled team look after the maintenance, security and administration of your home in Marbella

• Community Management – that enables homeowner and guest alike to enjoy the amenities to the full in a fluently managed complex

• Rental Management – optimising a property’s income capacity while also offering security, peace of mind and the convenience made possible by a professional team

• Concierge – a lifestyle enriched by a broad range of standard and tailored services aimed at convenience, comfort and creating special experiences

• Esenzia Privilege Club – a further extension of concierge services that places the leisure and lifestyle experiences of the region at your disposal – with preferential booking, discounts and many other benefits included

Access to a privileged lifestyle

In today’s fast-moving world, true luxury is having access to personal service and a team that takes care of everything for you, from daily home maintenance to ensuring a five-star experience for you and  your guests.

Because it frees you to enjoy your time to the full without having to become involved in the details of organisation. 

(We know) – What owners and guests want

• Personal service
• Access to special services and experiences
• Value for money
• Convenience and peace of mind
• To make the most of on-site facilities and luxuries
• To really discover and enjoy what this part of the world has to offer
• A five-star experience

Why we’re good at what we do

• Efficiency and accountability – we’re there in person
• We anticipate your needs
• We offer a wide range of lifestyle and leisure options
• A personal touch flexible to your needs
• A lot of experience in all the above

If you’re renting out – Esenzia is the best option

Because we’re experienced, on-site, provide a professional hospitality service and already the community, so we’re ideally positioned to look after your property and manage the rental process during those times when you’re not using it.

This makes Esenzia the ideal choice over other companies that simply cannot compete in terms of the service, reaction speed, attention to detail and efficiency that we can provide by having a presence within the community and knowing its operation like no other.

We would also not recommend managing the rental process yourself. Even if you speak good Spanish, have operational experience and are up to date on the legal requirements in Spain, the on-going management of a rental property is simply too labour intensive for most people.

The time spent managing the process and acquiring the specialist knowledge involved in operations, marketing, accounts, pricing, maintenance and dealing with guests is most likely not worth your while. 

Do you really want to spend 5-10 hours per week working on ensuring optimal returns, or would you prefer the convenience, peace of mind and transparency of a team that takes care of it all for you by combining optimal ROI from your property and ensuring that it is in top condition.

ESENZIA’s rental service offers all the benefits without any disadvantages

We ensure the highest prices, best returns and open the door to a luxury lifestyle experience for homeowner and guest alike

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blend hospitality, property management, and community development skills. Unlike traditional resorts, which cater only to short-term guests, residential resorts serve both homeowners and holiday guests, all of whom expect a seamless blend of luxury living and resort-style amenities. 

Esenzia stands out because it has a great deal of experience in the following fields:

• Hospitality and the operation of a reception, restaurants, cleaning and holiday rentals management
• The administration and day to day operating of community services, including coordinating security, gardeners, deliveries and maintenance
• Property development -understanding the process enables us to also advise developers during the design and product or service definition process

Combined, these skills ensure that Esenzia fits perfectly in the niche between hotel operators and conventional property management companies, neither of which has the specific set-up required to successfully operate a residential resort.

What’s more, if your development or community has luxury amenities such as pools, gym, spa and restaurant/coworking area, and especially if you have a reception that offers concierge services, we provide in-house staff and an Operations Manager who becomes the on-site point of reference for everything – rather than having to deal with lots of different people who are remote and therefore not as accountable.

We can manage the community well and liaise with gardening, security, housekeeping and maintenance staff because we are also experienced in the administration of residential complexes, so we work very closely with the administrators and owners to ensure a smooth and cost-efficient operation.

Creating an experience

But we take it further, focusing not only on efficient practical operation and the provision of a wide range of standard and also additional concierge services, but also on creating a very special lifestyle-focused experience for owners and their guests. Put differently, we work hard to ensure that resident and holiday guest alike enjoy an exclusive, five-star experience and can make the most of the amenities and services that come with the properties they have chosen.

To help ensure this we have on-site staff and a manager that oversees the entire process, and of course we encourage contact and feedback. We are here for you and work hard to maintain high standards, employing the latest software and also providing clear and easy to use formats for bookings, concierge and other services. 

We work in a transparent way that likes interaction between our team and yourselves, be it a homeowner or a holiday guest. We do this by balancing hospitality, property management and community engagement. It is a highly specialised field, but the Costa del Sol has a specialist firm with the right experience, resources and dedicated teams to provide a seamless balance between home and resort. It’s called Esenzia!

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This has taken hundreds of thousands of downtown and seaside properties out of the available housing stock for ‘normal’ people, creating a speculative price hike that has put housing out of reach of local citizens and migrant or seasonal workers. It is now almost impossible for many working individuals and families to afford renting or buying a property in most of Spain’s larger cities and coastal zones, creating an economic problem as it is now increasingly difficult to attract workers to such areas because they simply cannot find affordable housing.

After decades of government neglect, the problem is now viral, but the Spanish government’s solution has been to make an about face and suddenly appear to put an abrupt end to foreigners in particular buying properties to let out, or indeed even to use as holiday homes. This has a distinctly populist tone, and with no majority in parliament for Prime Minister Sánchez’s left-leaning coalition, the whole thing is regarded as an empty and indeed opportunistic series of remarks made to look like dealing with a problem while knowing full well that it is very unlikely to come to fruition.

Indeed, well over 20% of the Spanish economy comes from tourism and the selling of properties to foreign buyers, and they in turn represent a large part of the foreign investment flowing into the country, so Sánchez would be hurting the nation’s interests if he were to actually embark upon the policies he has hinted at. Something will have to be done to address the cost of properties and lack of affordable housing, but banning foreigners from buying or imposing 100% stamp duties on them doesn’t solve the problem yet damages the economy.

While there the scaremongering by the central government is therefore likely to have little real effect, regional and municipal authorities have taken measures to restrict people creating Air BnB holiday rentals. Here are some of the measures used:

• Regulation of Short-Term Rentals: A new decree requires property owners offering short-term rentals to register their properties through a ‘Ventanilla Única Digital¡ (Digital Single Window). This system aims to monitor and regulate holiday accommodations, ensuring compliance with housing standards and prioritising long-term residential rentals over short-term ones.

Local Initiatives on the Costa del Sol:

• Málaga: Effective from January 2025, Málaga has banned the registration of new holiday homes in 43 districts where tourist accommodations exceed 8% of family housing. This measure addresses housing shortages and the rising cost of living due to tourism saturation. 
• Fuengirola: The town has cancelled 600 tourist accommodation licenses for properties lacking a separate building entrance for guests. Additionally, owners of tourist flats are now subject to the same tax rates as hotels. 

These developments reflect a broader trend across Spain to regulate the holiday rental market, striving for a sustainable tourism model that safeguards local communities and ensures equitable housing access. It will eventually gather momentum and make it far more difficult for owners of second homes in Spain to rent their properties out, especially on a private, individual basis.

One of the best solutions is for homeowners to put the rental management of their properties in the hands of professional companies with the expertise and resources that come from being dedicated to this sector. They will also be able to advise on the best legal and fiscal structure for earning good returns on your property through rental income, and this could include establishing a business structure. 

For homeowners in apartment complexes, it is worth noting that such properties can be worth up to 20-40% more in resale with a tourist license that enables short-term holiday lets. Many residential communities on the Costa del Sol and other coastal areas of Spain have been designed and built as a crossover between conventional homes and private resorts, so it would be shortsighted for all but the most exclusive ones to ban holiday rentals. There are far better solutions available, such as creating a workable security and entry system for guests, or even better – having a professional management company take care of the process to ensure peace, security and a smooth-running community.

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