In many parts of the province, more than seven in ten households live in areas now classified as stressed for rental housing. The government has aligned with its partners to introduce rent controls that go beyond standard limits, affecting all leases. The aim is to curb steep price increases seen in recent years, a move that drew broad criticism from property owners and real estate professionals who fear it will shrink the already tight housing supply while still attempting to slow market escalation.
Atlas Real Estate Analytics, a consultancy known for its data science tools in real estate, conducted the calculations. The study used postal codes as the smallest defined unit under the new regulations, since census tracts are the basis for the stressed-area designation.
Specifically, the analysis looked at the rent burden, defined as the monthly rent and expenses relative to disposable income. It found that in 30 percent of cases, rent exceeded the average household’s disposable income, while prices rose by three percentage points above the consumer price index. The declaration of stressed status hinges on two possible conditions; at least one must be triggered by city councils or district administrations for a given area to be classified accordingly.
Using the latest data available, Atlas researchers found that 47.8 percent of the province’s postal codes would meet one of the two criteria, a substantial share. The concern remains that these areas encompass a large portion of the population. Notably, up to 70.46 percent of Alicante households reside in zones that could be deemed stressed under the forthcoming rules.
On paper, Alicante ranks among the provinces where the law could have the strongest impact. Other regions with high exposure include the Balearic Islands and Malaga, where roughly 95 percent of homes fall into stressed areas. Madrid registers about 89.9 percent, Cadiz 83.18 percent, Barcelona 80 percent, Palma 79.13 percent, and Valencia 74.2 percent, according to the same study cited by Atlas.
In contrast, Ceuta and Teruel show very low shares of homes in stressed rental zones, highlighting regional variation in market pressure.
Municipal distribution and urban concentration
When broken down by municipalities, the burden concentrates in coastal towns and large cities, as expected. In Alicante city itself, out of 24 postal codes, up to 20 would fall into one of the stressed categories under the law, excluding only rural areas. A similar pattern appears in Elche and other populous municipalities that form the metropolitan area around the provincial capital, absorbing much of the demand that Alicante cannot meet.
Tourist towns along the coast, especially in Las Marinas, exhibit particularly tight rental markets. Local residents compete with visitors from across the country and abroad, limiting long-term rental availability and pushing up prices. Dénia, Pedreguer, Benissa, Altea, Calp, Callosa d’En Sarrià, Finestrat, La Nucia, l’Alfàs del Pi, Benidorm, and La Vila join the list of municipalities where stress in the rental market is most pronounced.
South of the province, towns like Santa Pola, Guardamar, Torrevieja, and much of Vega Baja experience similar pressures. Inland areas such as Redován, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Catral, and Cox also show notable exposure, reflecting a broader regional pattern.
Conversely, areas with fewer stressed postcodes, such as Alto y Medio Vinalopó and La Montaña, have largely avoided the housing surge in recent years. Aspe, Novelda, Monforte, Elda, Petrer, and the northern Vinalopó towns Alpoc and Castalla illustrate pockets that do not yet meet the threshold for stress designation.
Overall, the analysis suggests urbanized zones and coastal corridors will bear the greatest impact of the forthcoming rental rules, while rural and some interior districts may see less effect. The study provides a snapshot of where policy will likely influence supply and affordability most acutely, guiding both policymakers and market participants in understanding potential shifts in the rental landscape.
Images accompanying the report show panoramas of Alicante and Alcoy to illustrate the contrast between crowded coastal markets and quieter inland areas. These visuals underscore the uneven distribution of housing pressure across the province and the challenge of aligning regulatory aims with local market realities.