New Mandatory Rental Registration Starts July 2025
If you rent out property in Spain for holiday use, there’s breaking news you shouldn’t ignore.
Spain’s General Directorate for Consumer Affairs has issued a major enforcement order that resulted in Airbnb being forced to remove over 65,000 listings from its platform. The move was supported by the High Court of Justice of Madrid and affects thousands of properties across regions such as Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and the Basque Country.
This comes just ahead of a major legal change: from July 2025, all short-term rental properties in Spain will be required to register under a new national platform, the Ventanilla Única (One-Stop-Shop), as part of a push for nationwide standardisation and stricter control.
Why Were So Many Airbnb Listings Removed?
The order against Airbnb came after repeated non-compliance with legal obligations for short-term rentals. Key violations included:
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Listings without valid tourist registration numbers
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Hosts not stating whether they were private individuals or professionals
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Incomplete or missing legal documentation
Though Airbnb was the focus of this action, the ruling applies broadly: all rental platforms, including Booking.com and Vrbo, must ensure hosts meet legal requirements — or face removals.
What’s Coming in July 2025?
Spain’s upcoming national registration system aims to unify and reinforce property rental oversight. The Ventanilla Única will introduce:
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Mandatory registration for all short-term rentals, regardless of location
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A centralised database covering all autonomous regions
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Fines and deactivation of listings that are not properly registered
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Stricter inspections and coordinated enforcement efforts across regions
This marks the first time that a single, national standard will apply across Spain, complementing — not replacing — existing regional rules.
Regional Rules Still Apply
Most autonomous communities in Spain already have their own registration systems in place. The new platform will integrate with these, not eliminate them. Here’s a snapshot of the current situation:
| Region |
Registration Required? |
Notes |
| Andalusia |
Yes |
Mandatory since 2016 via Registro de Turismo |
| Catalonia |
Yes |
Requires HUT number; strict enforcement |
| Valencia |
Yes |
Must be in regional registry |
| Balearic Islands |
Yes |
Limited licences; very strict controls |
| Madrid |
Yes (less strict) |
Registration and basic standards required |
| Basque Country |
Yes |
Regional registration mandatory |
| Canary Islands |
Yes |
Registration and minimum conditions |
| Galicia |
Yes |
Registration required |
| Castilla y León |
Yes |
Required for any tourist rental |
| Castilla-La Mancha |
Yes |
Declaration and registration needed |
| Murcia |
Yes |
Must register with tourism board |
| Extremadura |
Yes |
Compliance declaration required |
| Navarra |
Yes |
Classification and registration |
| La Rioja |
Yes |
Must be in regional records |
| Aragon |
Yes |
Registro de Turismo de Aragón |
| Cantabria |
Yes |
Regional tourism registration required |
| Asturias |
Yes |
Registration and inspections mandated |
What This Means for Property Owners
The crackdown on Airbnb is a clear signal: Spanish authorities are increasing scrutiny on short-term rentals. With a national registration system on the way and active enforcement already happening, property owners need to stay ahead.
If you already rent out a property — or plan to — now is the time to review both regional and national obligations. Ensuring your listing is compliant will help avoid penalties or removal, especially as platforms tighten their own controls in response to government pressure.
Have your say:
Have you faced any issues registering your property or keeping your listing online? Share your experience and advice with other owners in the comments.