The new regulation has come into force, tightening housing law and delivering greater protection for tenants. It triggers a shift in the market as some property owners choose to remove flats from rental listings or convert them to other uses. Leases that do not fall under price controls or mandatory extensions stay unaffected by these regulatory provisions, offering a measure of continuity amid broader changes.
A clear consequence is the surge in housing offered for special purposes. Seasonal rentals, in particular, fall under the Urban Leasing Law together with the Civil Code. This approach applies to leases not intended for the tenant as a permanent home, typically covering shorter periods—usually under one year—and motivated by specific, time-limited needs. Examples include placements for displaced teachers, arrangements to cover months of sick leave, housing for college students during term time, or families renting for a brief period to run a small business or relocate temporarily.
Data from Idealist shows that during the most recent quarter rental listings targeted to seasonal use rose sharply, reaching 46 percent of Alicante ads and accounting for about 10 percent of all postings. When compared with the same period last year, the rise exceeded 110 percent, signaling a substantial market recalibration driven by the new rules.
This growth in seasonal rentals is notable on a regional level. It exceeds the national trend where seasonal rentals increased by 39 percent in the third quarter, yet the jump in cities such as A Coruña reached 290 percent and Tarragona saw about a 215 percent increase in the same period. Large changes in supply reflect how owners respond when strict enforcement and potential penalties come into play, often choosing shorter, flexible arrangements instead of long term commitments.
Conversely, the availability of traditional long-term rental housing has contracted in Alicante, decreasing by about 6 percent in the same timeframe. The shift has meant that overall listings still show more options than a year earlier, with a roughly 18 percent rise in total apartment availability. The market dynamics illustrate how the new law redirects a portion of supply toward seasonal and short-term arrangements, while long-term renting remains constrained by the regulatory environment.
Rent collection and market behavior in Alicante
Industry observers note that rent collection practices have evolved alongside regulatory changes. The diminished flow of rents in Alicante over an extended period has been attributed, in part, to owners pausing or altering their rental strategies to accommodate the revised rules. The response has not led to a return to permanent tenancy; instead a growing number of landlords have shifted toward seasonal rentals, which typically present fewer administrative hurdles and offer a more flexible framework for property owners, albeit with clear restrictions specific to seasonal arrangements.
Experts emphasize that this trend reflects a broader pattern where regulatory measures push the market toward options that balance tenant protections with owner flexibility. The seasonal model grants landlords a lawful and transparent method to adapt to fluctuating demand, while renters gain access to properties for defined windows of time. Overall, the housing landscape shows a reallocation of supply that aligns with the intent of the new housing code, even as some regions experience sharper swings in local rental activity than others.