UPDATE: The form to start the registration process is now available. The form must be filled in in Spanish but here is an English sample version we have created
UPDATE: The Decree has now been published today, 11th February 2016 and property registration will begin 3 months from today
After three years of waiting, Andalusia has announced its new regulation for the tourist accommodation in the Official Bulletin of the Andalusian Government (BOJA). Spain-Holiday.com has not only been following this process closely with a vested interested for our homeowners and also as members of FEVITUR (Spanish Federation of Holiday Homes and Apartments Associations). Thanks to our long term experience in the tourism sector in Andalusia, we have also been in counsel with the Regional Government on the decree.
This regulation of the rental property industry in Andalusia is long overdue and follows in the wake of similar regulations implemented in regions such as Catalonia in 2014.
The entire Decree can be found in full here (in Spanish), but here is a summary of the most important points of this decree and the conditions required to register your holiday home.
How do you classify ‘holiday rental accommodation’?
Holiday rental accommodations are considered to be properties located in a residential zone that are regularly offered for touristic purposes by financial transaction. In other words, they are promoted or marketed via tourism channels.
A tourism channel is considered to be travel agencies, intermediary companies or those that provide tourist services and/or channels that include the possibility of making a reservation.
Excluded from this decree:
a) Homes that have guests where no financial transaction has taken place.
b) Dwellings contracted for more than two months continuously by the same tenant (long-term holiday rentals).
c) Homes that are located in rural areas (these are governed by Article 48 of Law 13/2011 of 23 December and Decree 20/2002, dated 29 January, Tourism in Rural and Active Tourism). But what happens if my property does not fulfill those requirements but is located in rural land? Now you can apply for a VFT licence due to the update of the Andalucia holiday rental law (Vivienda con Fines Turísticos, VFT). Updated at the beginning of 2018, this law now allows homeowners in rural locations who did not previously meet the legal requirements to obtain either a rural holiday licence or a holiday rental licence (Decree 28/2016), to immediately begin promoting their properties to potential guests and accept booking reservations.
d) A group of properties consisting of three or more dwellings with the same owner, which are located in the same building or in neighbouring urbanisations or buildings within a 1km radius (these will be classified as Touristic Apartments and will be subject to Decree 194/2010 of 20 April).
What types of properties can be rented for tourism purposes?
a) A property in its entirety. The maximum capacity will be limited by the license of occupation, but may not exceed 15 people, with a maximum capacity of 4 people per room.
b) A room only. The owner must also reside in the property. You can use an internationally recognized name (eg. Bed & breakfast, etc.). The maximum capacity will be 6 people with a maximum of 4 people per room.
What are the requirements?
a) Having an occupational license and complying with technical conditions and quality requirements for housing.
b) Having direct external ventilation or via a patio and having a window shading system (a means of darkening the windows either by blinds or curtains).
c) Being sufficiently equipped and furnished for immediate use.
d) Having fitted air conditioning units in all bedrooms and lounge areas that provide cooling (if rented from May to September) and heating (if rented from October to April).
UPDATE: With regards to the air conditioning, the Regulations does expand on this point to state that properties are exempt when the property or building is classified as “of Cultural Interest” and where modifications and/or building work is prohibited.
e) Having a fully stocked medical kit.
f) Providing information about local amenities, i.e. shops, restaurants, nearby parking, medical services, public transport, etc.
g) Having a Complaints and Claims book and sign.
h) Cleaning the property prior to the arrival and after the departure of new customers.
i) Supplying bedding, towels and household goods in general, as well as spare sets.
j) Providing a contact number to be available to answer questions or issues regarding the property.
k) Supplying information and instructions for electrical appliances.
l) Informing users of the property rules in relation to the use of facilities, pets or smoking restrictions.
How to register a home in the Registry of Tourism of Andalusia
a) The homeowner must submit a statement to the Ministry responsible for tourism, confirming the property is in accordance with all the requirements of the decree. Once submitted, the property can be rented out with immediate effect. The minimum content of the statement of responsibility will include:
- Property details including cadastral reference and the maximum capacity as stated by the license of occupation;
- Information about the property owner, whether an individual or a company, including contact address for notifications;
UPDATE: The form is now available online to start the registration process. Here is an English version we have created along with all the relevant links and information needed
b) The registration number of the property assigned by the Registry of Tourism of Andalusia must be indicated in all promotional materials or advertising of the property.
c) The Registry of Tourism of Andalusia must be notified of any changes in circumstances such as changing to long term rentals.
Deadlines
a) The Decree was published on 11th February 2016. Registration opens 3 months after this date, which supposedly would make it 12th May 2016, for registering a property in the Registry of Tourism of Andalusia.
b) Homeowners have one year to comply with the requirements of fixed air conditioning and heating units as required in the property.
Who is legally accountable to the Administration and the tenants?
The homeowner is considered to be legally accountable to the administration and holidaymakers, unless otherwise stated.
How do you organise the process of renting, pricing and handling the reservations?
a) All holidaymakers must receive a document, by way of contract, which specifies the homeowner, the registration number with the Registry of Tourism, the holidaymaker’s details, the start and end dates of their stay, the total price of the stay, and contact number.
b). All holidaymakers must present their identification document so that the homeowner can register their data according to the norms of registry of travellers in hotels and similar.
c) The arrival and departure times will be by mutual agreement between the homeowner and the renter. Unless otherwise stated, the arrival time will be at 16:00 and departure time at 12:00.
d) Upon arrival, the homeowner must provide keys and/or access cards to the entire compound, as well as information about the use of appliances and the rules of the community.
e) The advertised price has to be by night (THERE IS NO MINIMUM OF NIGHTS) and it must include the costs of the use of water, light, cleaning and bedding.
f) The terms of price, reservation and payment shall be established between the two parties, however, they must be stated in detail before the confirmation of the booking. Proof of advance payments must be provided, if applicable.
g) The homeowner may request an advance payment as a deposit up to a maximum of 30% of the total price unless previously agreed.
h) If the renter cancels their reservation up to 10 days beforehand, the homeowner may keep up to 50% of the deposit. If the cancellation is made with less than 10 days to spare, they may keep the entire advance payment.
i) If the homeowner cancels the reservation up to 10 days beforehand, they must return the entire advance payment to the renter. If the cancellation is made less than 10 days beforehand, they must compensate the renter with 30% of the price of the contracted stay.
Update: If the rental is cancelled by either party for substantiated reason or force majeure, no compensation will be due
Sanctions
All properties that are not registered or have not filed a declaration of responsibility and are being rented out for tourism purposes, could be fined up to 180,000 euros. Also, any property that does not meet the requirements of this Decree may also be fined.
Spain-Holiday.com will continue to closely monitor the implementation of this decree and will update this information as and when any changes arise.