The government is preparing two regulatory changes to govern temporary and tourist rentals. Isabel Rodríguez, the minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, announced on Wednesday a surgical reform of the horizontal property law to grant neighbor veto power when a holiday home is established, and also the approval in the Council of Ministers of a decree-law that requires justification of the reason for entering into a short-term contract.
The administration is already seeking support from different political groups to push through the reform, which the minister described as surgical in nature. The aim is to empower residents and make the owners’ opinion decisive in allowing an economic activity on their properties. The minister clarified that the authorization or veto right for such activities would be guaranteed, and she indicated that meetings would be held with online platforms, affected parties, and labor groups to draft the regulatory change.
Additionally, there is a plan to create a single platform listing all properties rented under tourist arrangements, including stays coordinated through platforms like Airbnb or Booking. This platform is expected to be ready before the end of next year, although European directives allow implementation by December 2026. It is anticipated to cover not only tourist accommodations but also flats rented on a temporary basis.
Temporary contracts will also be covered in the royal decree currently being drafted by the government and is slated for approval by the Council of Ministers before the end of summer. The reform seeks to prevent landlords from bypassing the usual restrictions by designating properties as mid-stay under civil law, instead of the standard urban rental framework. The minister stressed the need to move quickly within the government while ensuring public participation. The text will define causality and specify which contracts can fall under this modality, as well as the conditions and requirements for such properties, including the furniture or fittings they must include. The decree will include a regulatory framework for article three of the urban rental law, though it will not require a reform of that statute itself.
In the words of the minister, seasonal accommodations are exactly what they are intended to be. She defended their usefulness while acknowledging the need to prevent evasion of urban rental law and to safeguard temporary housing for people who require a different rental arrangement for work, study, or other reasons. To justify a temporary stay, a plausible cause will be required — for instance, one to two months for a cultural festival, nine months for a school year, or more than a year for a research assignment. Just as a regular contract might require a payslip, temporary contracts will require justification of the purpose for the stay.
The minister expressed confidence that these measures would curb the phenomenon seen in many tourist towns where many flats are rented from September to June as temporary stays and during the summer season as tourist accommodations. This pattern can strain the traditional rental market and drive up prices, she concluded.
Reactions to the announcements have been mixed. The General Council of Official Real Estate Agents (COAPI) welcomed the alignment between ministerial proposals and the earlier ideas proposed by industry professionals to prevent fraud in temporary rentals. They stressed the importance of regulatory deployment over legislative modification to protect seasonal rentals.
CCOO, the Public Policy and Social Protection secretary, voiced dissatisfaction, arguing that temporary contracts should be limited to six months, renewable once for another six. They noted that no formal written proposal had been presented by the ministry and called on the government to provide a text so a working group could continue its analysis.
Overall, the government’s aim is to balance the protection of tenants with the realities of seasonal housing needs, while ensuring transparent and enforceable rules across diverse communities.
“Seasonal accommodations are for their intended purpose”
Amid the new restrictions being considered, the housing minister reaffirmed the usefulness of seasonal rentals and the necessity of clear mechanisms to prevent evading urban rental rules. The policy envisions verifying the justification for temporary stays — for example, one or two months for a cultural festival, a nine-month period for a school year, or longer periods for long-term work or research assignments. She emphasized that just as a standard job might require a salary slip, temporary stays would require proof of the stated purpose.
With these measures, there is an expectation to curb the activity seen in many tourism-heavy towns and avoid pressuring the traditional rental market. The government believes that a well-regulated temporary rental sector can coexist with vibrant cultural and educational activities while protecting residents from sudden price increases.
Responses from social and labor groups have highlighted a range of positions. Some industry bodies agree that enforcement and regulatory clarity will help preserve seasonal housing, while others argue for stricter limits and clearer written proposals to ensure a smooth legislative process.
As debates continue, the upcoming policy steps and the final language of the decree are watched closely by property owners, tenants, and cities alike, all seeking a fair and predictable framework for seasonal and temporary housing.