Thousands of Brits with holiday homes in Spain and France may be banned from renting them out to tourists
Saturday, December 14, 2013 @ 10:54 AM
Hundreds of thousands of Britons with holiday homes in Spain and France could be prevented from renting them out to tourists.
Controversial laws set to be passed could also add hundreds of pounds to the cost of breaks for millions of travellers from Britain.
They will no longer be able to pay cheaper rates direct to owners but will have to stay in apartments, villas or hotels operated by major firms.
Meanwhile, thousands of second-home owners could end up trying to sell up as the changes make it too complicated and costly to keep the property going.
In France, a crackdown on holiday lets in the capital Paris as well as Lyon and Marseille is expected next week. If the new law is a success, the rest of the country could follow suit.
In Spain, the authorities are expected to ban unlicensed rentals next spring.
Ryan Levitt, of holiday rental website housetrip.com, warned: ‘This law is closing the door to working and middle-class families who want to book a break to Spain at an affordable price.
‘Instead of being able to share a whole house with friends, you face being stuck with your kids in a cramped hotel room.’
An estimated one million properties in Spain are owned by Britons. Many are inhabited all year round by expatriates but hundreds of thousands were bought as holiday homes.
Until recently, it has been relatively simple for British owners to rent out their properties in the two countries.
But under the new rules, those with second homes in Spain will need a licence from the local council, which could incur a fee.
Read more at source: DM