Valencia cracks down on short-term rentals like Airbnb to avoid social problems

OVIEDO, Spain

The Spanish region of Valencia is cracking down on short-term tourism rentals, passing new regulations for those listing on platforms like Airbnb on Friday.

The new regulation aims to end years of “unorderly growth” and “avoid social problems” that the sector can bring like “tourist-phobia” or problems in the housing sector, Valencia’s conservative President Carlos Mazón said on Thursday.

According to data from the Valencia government, the number of registered tourist rentals has more than doubled since 2015, now reaching 105,111.

The new regulation aims to give more power to cities and neighborhood groups to limit, inspect and fine short-term rentals to tourists.

It also increases the maximum fine to €600.000 ($653,000) for illegal rentals, including renting out one room within an apartment.

Even though it is already illegal to rent out individual rooms, the government said it detected a platform renting out around 5,000 rooms.

It also foresees outlawing key boxes outside apartment buildings and will instead require guests to be received in person.

Under the new regulations, platforms and owners of rental apartments will also need to undergo more bureaucratic hurdles and need to renew licenses every five years.

Valencia’s move comes after Barcelona — one of Spain’s other top tourism destinations — recently announced that it will ban all short-term rentals by the end of 2028.

Other cities in Spain, faced with protests regarding over-tourism, are also tightening restrictions on the sector.

Valencia’s new regulations hope to strike a balance between maintaining the economic benefits of tourism without it becoming a problem.

“With this legal framework, we provide security and certainty, and we move forward in our model of sustainable tourism that does not renounce anything or condemn anyone," said Mazón.

The tourism sector makes up around 16% of Valencia’s GDP and employment, according to government data.