On December 24, 2024, a Royal Decree was published in the Spanish Official Gazette establishing new requirements for seasonal leases, tourist rentals, room rentals, and any other type of short-term rentals. This week, we analyse the most relevant aspects of this new regulation.
Who is affected by the new regulation?.
Royal Decree 1312/2024 applies to all landlords and owners, whether individuals or legal entities, professionals or non-professionals. It is applicable regardless of whether they engage in this activity regularly or sporadically. The regulation covers short-term rentals conducted via digital platforms like Booking, Airbnb, Expedia, and others. “Short-term accommodation rental” includes leases intended for temporary purposes (vacations, work, tourism, studies, or medical treatment.) but does not cover permanent housing needs. Properties must be furnished and equipped for their intended use.
The goal is to enhance transparency and control in this sector while minimizing the risk of fraud.
Unique Registry Number in the Property Registry
Anyone offering short-term rental properties via digital platforms must obtain a Unique Registry Number from the Spanish Land Registry. This number must appear in all online advertisements. If the landlord does not have the corresponding Registry Number, the platform must remove the listing and prevent its publication. Our firm can assist you in obtaining the Unique Registry Number that your property needs to be rented.
Digital Platform for Rentals.
The other key innovation is the “Single Digital Platform,” managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda. This digital system will coordinate information between landlords, digital platforms, and relevant authorities.
Platforms are required to ensure that only compliant rental listings are published. This collaboration will help monitor the sector, preventing potential fraud and ensuring compliance with the legislation.
Short-term leases without a Registry Number will be deactivated. The Single Digital Platform will also send monthly data on each property to the National Statistics Institute (INE), Regional Statistical Institutes, Eurostat, and others.
When does the new regulation take effect?
Royal Decree 1312/2024 came into force on January 2nd, 2025. However, there is a transition period until July 1st, 2025, after which its provisions will become mandatory. Both landlords and digital platforms must comply with the regulation by this deadline.
Conclusion.
As we have explained in previous articles, seasonal leases are a type of rental prone to fraud. At White & Baos Lawyers, we are experts in this type of contracts. If you need expert advice on this topic or assistance in applying for your Unique Registry Number, do not hesitate to contact us.
The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice but merely conveys information relating to legal issues.
Carlos Baos (Lawyer)
White & Baos.
Tel: +34 966 426 185
E-mail: info@white-baos.com
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