Tourist Licence in Alicante

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Posted and filed under Legal Issues in Spain.

TOURIST LICENCE IN ALICANTE, VALENICA

Essentially the law for Tourist Licences in Alicante changed the 9th July 2018. From that date there is a new requirement to obtain a tourist licence that is the Certificate of compatibility with tourist use, the Town hall has to issue it.

Now it is obligatory for all owners letting out properties as holiday lets to apply for a tourist licence in the Valencia region (we can only comment on this area). We recently received this email:-

How to Obtain a Tourist Licence in Alicante 

We can help you in the whole process. We require:

We re­quire:

If you do not have the Hab­it­a­tion cer­ti­fic­ate now called “De­clara­cion re­spons­able de se­gunda ocu­pa­cion” we can help you with this pro­cess. Please read “steps to get a Tourist Licence 2020” or ad­vise Ana .

Tourist Licence Alicante: Case Study

“I have an apartment in Playa Flamenca and would like to inquire about what is needed for a tourist licence. I would need to let it out occasionally. The apartment is approximately 12 years old. I use it and also let my family use it. Your name was given to me by a friend. If you would be able to help me that would be most helpful.”

Our response

“When you rent out your property short term it is now compulsory to register your property at the Tourist office, this is called a Tourism licence. We can advise the cost of this.

Then there is a new requirement that is called Certificate of Compatibility with tourist uses. The Town hall has to issue this certificate. We can help you obtain it, even there are different requirements depending on the Town hall the property belongs, and sometimes there is a tax involved.

When we receive it from the Town hall we will be able to submit the application form for the tourist licence but not before.

A form must be filed at the tourist office which deals with this (ours is in Alicante City), then the client must register at the police station to get a user and password to enter the data (name and passport) for every guest they have at the property. We can help you with the whole process, to get the plaque and the access codes at the Police station

Habitation Certificate

Please note that a Declaration of Second Occupation is required. The Habitation certificate should have been delivered by the builder when a property was purchased. Or when you bought the property if a resale (certainly nowadays this always happens).

It is valid for 10 years, but sometimes it is issued some years after the house is sold. If a client cannot find it or if it is expired a new one is necessary. We can quote for the cost of the full process, with Town hall taxes and VAT included.

An architect has to visit the house to take pictures and measurements to make the plans.

Finally, the client needs to pay a tax on their rental income of 19% per annum . We can help you with payment of this tax. You do not need to worry about your friends and family using the property”.

If you are not Spanish resident

If you are renting out your property and you are non resident in Spain, you are required to pay a rental tax every quarter. That is by the 20th of January, April, July and October.

The form will need to be submitted to the Tax Office at the end of the corresponding quarter.

So as you can see, the law is changing and if someone is only renting out their property very occasionally, the cost of doing all this legally is prohibitive. The advantage if your property is getting enough lettings is that you are legal and can advertise to get bookings safely and without risk. The cons are that is expensive to sort, complicated, with a number of steps such as gathering the information, recording with the police, paying taxes, and we only can assist with a couple of these elements (habitation certificates for example and the licence).

Conclusions

We are posting this article so that clients are aware of this information.

It really depends on how many bookings you are getting/likely to get per year. Do not forget that if you are not using your property at all, then there are other options such as long-term rentals or even considering placing the property on the market for sale (as we all know that the pound is very weak at the moment, if that affects you).

As a final note, I am advised that in some regions, the government have started a programme to check each property for rented properties with the police going door to door to check if the property is being let and there is a licence.  We have also heard that Torrevieja area is proposed to be one of those areas soon. Contact us please if we can be of any help.

116 Comments

  • Randy Humphreys

    How much does it cost to obtain a Tourist Rental Licence in Valencia Comunity

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Randy,

      Ana, who deals with the tourist licences on a daily basis, will be in contact with you shortly via email to discuss this matter further.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Rand Thompson

    Hello, I own a property on the Costa Blanca which i rent out short term (holiday lets). I appreciate your advice regarding the importance of a property rental licence in place however. I asked my agent to get me the licence. Someone told me that not all tourist licences are the same. Is that true? How do i know they are getting the correct licence? I wish I just went to you in the first place,
    Rand

    • Ian C.

      Hey Rand,
      Thanks for asking our advice- We love to help.
      Yes unfortunately it is true- Not all licences to rent your home in Spain are the same.
      There are two types of licence obtainable from the tourism board.
      A tourism licence obtained by your estate agent or rental agency.
      Private rental (tourism licence) as obtained by Spanish Solutions and other trusted firms in Spain.

      You ́ll be able to tell which rental licence you have depending on if it is marked VT or AT- it is so important.
      Be careful, if it is a AT number to begin, you absolutely cannot advertise that house for rent yourself on AirBnB, bookings.com or any other property rental site in Spain. You can only rent the property if you do it through the agent who applied for the certificate.

      Of course if you used Spanish Solutions, we give you the licence that allows you to rent through any agent or website you choose. In fact, its against the law to even advertise a property on tripadvisor etc unless the number begins with VT.

      You need the same documentation either way- habitation cert, cert of compatibility etc. If you have already used a rental agency in Spain to obtain your certificate and if it is the “incorrect” one, we can still rectify the situation by using the work already undertaken. We just finish it in a more advantageous way for you.

      Please contact Ana or Nic for more information.

      Ana

  • Colin Davies

    I am considering purchasing a property in Spain. The Estate Agent I am dealing with has informed me that countryside properties will not be issued with Touristic Licences. Is this correct? The same Estate Agent informed me that I am still allowed to rent out my property without a Touristic Licence, as long as I advertise privately using my own website rather than Airbnb etc. Is this accurate please?

    • Ian C.

      Hello Colin,
      Thanks so much for getting in touch- You ́ll be glad you did when you hear the facts about Tourism licences.
      It cannot be much more false to tell you that you can rent privately without a tourism licence. Let me be clear- If you don’t have a tourism licence you cannot legally rent your home in Spain. The end! You will get caught and you will get fined.
      Hopefully, the estate agent you met just didn’t understand the rules. We always advise Estate agents to check with us so that the information they give their clients is indeed true. (we help estate agents to get more deal closed because of this- Happy buyers and happy agent!)
      Laws and rules in Spain are constantly changing. This is one of the reasons why we advise our clients to speak to us or a similar law office first, before they start looking for a property. Either way, if he purposely told you a lie or told you that information because he didn’t know the rules- you are still the one who gets the fine!

      To give you an example, Pilar De La Horadada town hall is still not in a position to issue certificates. (we need to get a certificate of compatibility before we apply for the toursin licence.) There are hundreds of new properties being sold and built there but we can’t allow our clients to advertise them for rent until the town hall gets its act together. ((probably september, we spoke to them today by phone)
      Other areas where we can not get tourism licences (rental licences) just now include Algorfa and Guardamar. Remember the situation is changing daily.

      Recently, we had an enquiry from a couple buying a property in rustic land, which plans were to convert it into a bed&breakfast. We enquiried about if they could get the Tourist Licence, some the requirements involved were:

      – the building has to have an architectonic interest (like an old windmill refurbished, etc.)
      – the plot has to have a minimum size (it was quite a big size)
      – it has to be a minimum distance from the nearest type of business

      Why not talk to an estate agent that we know for sure knows what he/she is doing?
      We can recommend a few excellent agents who work with us- As a general rule when an agent uses a professional firm Spanish Solutions, they have nothing to hide and 99% of the time, the deals go very well.

      Another quick point. You really need to buy a property in an area where we know you can get rental return. Look at Bookings or AirBnb and see how many properties are rented around the Cabo Roig, La Zenia, Villamartin, Torrevieja areas- tens of thousands. Ideally for property rental, this is the place to be.

      Either way, whether you choose to buy inland or in a more populated area, we can help make sure your property purchase in Spain is legal and you get start earning a rental return ASAP,

      Regards,

      Ian

  • Aine heaney

    Hi I am a tourist and planning a holiday in Ibiza. I have been given a tourist licence number by an owner for a property we are keen to book. How do I check if this number is legitimate? Thank you

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Aine,

      To check the tourist licence number contact the tourist information in Ibiza, they can check the number and ensure it authentic, have a lovely holiday !

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Kieron Lock

    I need a licence can someone make it easy for me as the forms are a nightmare

    • Amanda Thomas

      Dear Kieron, We know! My colleague Yannelsis will email you to help you. Kind regards.

  • Susan Lynch

    Hello I am on holiday in an apartment cuidad quesada the property i think does not meet essential regulations or display a tourist licence.. He has given me tourist no.TVT-471864-A is this a genine no pls thank you

    • Amanda Thomas

      Hi Susan, Yes this is genuine, but I think you have now spoken with Ana, Kind regards

  • Julie balkwill

    A friend of mines Facebook was hacked and they advertised a property to rent on it , this was advertised on market place for a while , only when some one made an enquirey , they found out and took it off immediately , will this cause him any problems

    • Amanda Thomas

      Dear Julie, We think this is highly unlikely. But if possible they should keep any evidence of being hacked, but if not possible, we do not think they need to worry. The authorities are far more likely to pursue very clear cases of breach of the law. Kind regards

  • Ann

    I am visiting Spain (Murcia region) on Saturday with the view to purchase a property one bed apartment to rent out. Please advise me the costs of a Tourism Licence and also charges for your services to handle the purchase of the property and also recommend a mortgage provider we have the 30% required.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon Ann,

      How exciting! The Murcia región is lovely.

      Before purchasing the property we would advise checking if the tourist licence is possible, this can be done with the local town hall, we would recommend this is done personally or have a third party ,other than the real estate company, carry out the check on your behalf. This will ensure there are no surprises after the property purchase.

      We will contact you directly to discuss your enquiry in more detail.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Marlene Smythe

    I own a house in Villamartin, which I am hoping to retire to in a few years. My question is; Can my family holiday in my property if I am not with them? Would I need a tourist licence for this?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Marlene,

      You do not need a tourist licence if your family use your Spanish property as long as no money is exchanging hands. We hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Karen

    Is there a register of licensed properties in the torrevieja área? If so how do I check it to see if two properties I am interested in renting are legal.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Karen,

      You can check if a rental property has a tourist licence by contacting the regions Tourist Information Board. This is where the tourist licences are issued.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Paul McIlroy

    We have applied for a tourist rental licence about three months ago but have been told it may take up to 18 months to receive. Do we need to cancel booking for our property and take no more until we get our licence?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon Paul,

      If your application for the tourist licence has been submitted to the town hall with the relevent documents, you can rent your property.

      You should have received a stamped form from the town hall (or the person dealing with this on your behalf), this will be the proof your application is being processed. We hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Frances

    Hello, I have a house in Los Alcazares that I want to rent out and I’m wondering how much do you charge to set up everything so I can do this.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Frances,

      Spanish Solutions would be delighted to help you obtain your tourist licence in Murcia.

      The good news is the process of obtaining the tourist licence in Murcia is quicker, easier and cheaper.

      To obtain the Tourist licence in Murcia you need the relevent forms signed and liability insurance for the property. We will contact you directly to discuss this matter further.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Lorraine

    hello I am trying to find out how much the fines are and how they are levied. We have a tourist licence for 4 people but last week guests who booked through booking.com arrived with 4 children and failed to disclose that there were 6 people even though the site quite categorically states this. Our property manager unfortunately let them in and handed over the keys. We tried to get them to leave but the guests refused and booking.com were as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Can anyone tell me how much the fines are, we do not want to get into any trouble as we are doing everything we can to play by the rules.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon Lorraine,

      We understand your concern.

      We feel it would be very unlikely that you will get a fine, unless the Guardia Civil have done a check at the time or someone denounces you because of the number of people in the property.

      If it has been an error on your key holders behalf and if you have evidence to prove this and the fact you have tried to remove the additional people from the property, this will only help in the unlikely event you get a fine.

      We hope this helps.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Angela

    Hi
    We are looking into the possibility of renting our apartment.
    Is it possible for you to email me your costs and information to attain a tourist license in Torreveija please.
    Many Thanks
    Angela

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good morning Angela,

      Spanish Solutions would be delighted to help you obtain a tourist licence for your property in Torrevieja.

      Please see below a link to our recent blog which discusses the tourist licence in the Orihuela Costa área. The process for Torrevieja is the same but the taxes at at he town hall differ.

      https://www.spanishsolutions.net/blog/newsletters/how-to-obtain-a-tourist-licence-valencia-community/

      You can taylor the package to your needs, for example some people already have the habitation certificate or decide to arrange the plaque and Pólice codes themselves.

      We look forward to hearing from you.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Alexei

    Hello! How long does it take to receive tourist license in Valencia. And what is the price?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Alexei,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      We can help with the tourist licence for sure. The length of time and cost will depend on which area of Valencia you live and also which documents you have. We will contact you directly to discuss this matter further.

      We look forward to speaking with you.
      Kind regards

  • Darren Currell

    Hola, I am looking for a property around the Gandia region to open a small wellbeing centre. I plan to be self employed offering massage, reiki, tarot etc but want to rent rooms out for guests to stay and recharge.
    I understand i can’t get a tourist licence on rustic land and i can’t live a property i am renting rooms in.
    I also understand i would need a casa rural licence. but to get that i need 5000m2 of land and an architect to check things. I have just read that the property needs to have a historical feature or interesting fact.
    Is this all correct?
    I don’t have a huge budget and i am struggling to see if i will be able to do it if this is the case.
    Can you please advise.
    Gracias

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Darren,

      You would not need a tourist licence, instead you would have to open a buisness and have an opening licence ect. It may be best to have a consultation with a fiscal advisor who will assist you with this and guide you through the process, we wish you all the best in your new venture.

      Kinds regards
      Nicola

  • Donna Parker

    After sale of a property can the tourist certificate be cancelled.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon Donna,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      Yes, you can cancel the tourist licence at anytime.

      If you have a tourist licence and are selling the property, the tourist licence can also be transferred into the new owners name, this would be another option. Should you need any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact us, we would be happy to help.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Jim King

    We are in the process of purchasing a property in villamartin and are almost at completion. We are looking to advertise and rent the property in 2020 to holiday makers. What do we need in place and what’s the likely cost to obtain the license etc

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon Jim,

      Many congratulations on your new property purchase, Villa Martin is not far from our La Zenia office, you must come in and say hi.

      If you intend to rent your property out in summer 2020, we would recommend starting the tourist licence process as soon as possible. The Orihuela Costa town hall have a delay in issuing the Compatability Report, this document is needed to apply for the tourist licence in the Orihuela Costa region. It takes on averag 6 months to obtain the tourist licence in this area.

      Please see below a link below, from our website, detailing the process, cost and documents required for a tourist licence in the Orihuela Costa region.

      https://www.spanishsolutions.net/blog/newsletters/how-to-obtain-a-tourist-licence-valencia-community/

      You can taylor the package to suit your circumstances, for example some people may already have the Habitation Certificate or the Compatibility Certificate or they may decide to arrange the plaque and Police access codes themselves.

      We can also help you with the rental tax which needs to be paid each year, when you are renting your property out. This is important and even if you don’t intend renting your Spanish property now, go ahead and get the certificate anyway- It adds value to your property and makes it more attractive to the next guy!

      Should you wish to continue you or have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
      We look forward to hearing from you.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Will price

    Hi I own a 3 bed 2 bath quad in la zenia and want to rent for the summer season every year,what would it cost to get a licence and can you recommend a good letting agent for hol lets

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Will,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      We would be delighted to assist you with your tourist licence . Please see a link below , from our website, detailing the process, cost and documents required for a tourist licence in the Villa martin area.

      https://www.spanishsolutions.net/blog/newsletters/how-to-obtain-a-tourist-licence-valencia-community/

      You can taylor the package to suit your circumstances, for example some people may already have the Habitation Certificate or the Compatability Certificate. Or they would prefer to arrange the plaques and police codes themselves.

      Should you wish to continue, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can begin the process prior to your visit to Spain. Please note the town hall have a back log issuing the Compatibility Report (which is needed for the tourist licence) and it can take up to 6 months to obtain the tourist licence in the Orihuela Costa area, if you have summer bookings for 2020, we would strongly recommend starting the process asap.

      Should you have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

      Kind regards / Saludos cordiales

      Nicola Ryan

  • Francis barden

    I do not normally rent my property which is in LaFinca golf Algorfa, I am looking to rent it for 3 months (1rental) do I need tourist licence.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Francis,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      In this case no, you do not need a tourist licence as this is known as a short term rental. You would need a tourist licence if you were renting your property for holiday rentals. We hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Valina O’Donnell

    Hi, I have a seasonal holiday let with an English owner, I have 11 weeks throughout the year (77 days ), I have only used 32 and have paid for about 66 days already, I do not wish to continue and prepared to let her keep the 34 days without a refund, she is demanding the remaining 10 days even though I will forgo the 34 days, or she will not return item of clothing etc in the apartment, she has no tourist licence which she admitted to me, I only want access to remove my clothing please advise thank you

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Evening Valina,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      Can we ask if you have agreed on any terms and conditions of the let, even if it was via email. If so these would have to be referred to. If not and you can not come to an amicable agreement, you would have to report this to the Police, we hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Phil Danby

    Hi I have a two bed apartment on la Torre roldan murcia. I now intend renting out in the summer months. Can you advise procedure in obtaining tourist licence which is required by HomeAway and Airbnb.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon Phil,

      Spanish Solutions would be delighted to help you obtain your tourist licence in Murcia.

      To get the Tourist Licence Number in Murcia the process takes 8 weeks. When finalised, you will receive your definitive Licence Number by email.

      The documents needed for the Licence:

      – NIE certificate
      – Passport
      – Council tax bill
      – A tourist licence form signed. (Just sign by one of the property owners)
      – Liability insurance for the property

      Should you need any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact us, we would be delighted to help.

      We look forward to hearing from you.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • maria

    We are waiting for townhall certificate of compatibility, they only require one more document from the community meeting of minutes vote for holiday rentals. Can we continue to take bookings or do we have to wait for this document. As cannot apply for licence until we have the townhall certificate. Can we put on our advertising listing Licence being processed.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Maria,

      You are unable to have rentals in your property until you have obtained the Compatability Report and submitted your Tourist Licence application and have proof of this, we are sorry.

      Kind regards.
      Nicola

  • Henrik Kristensen

    Hi, I am going to Alicante region in a couple of weeks to look for at holiday home for private use and to rent out when I don´t use it myself. I am very concerned about the Tourist License. Can I risk to buy a holiday home, which won´t get the approval ? Some comments on Facebook say, that it takes up to 1 year to get the license. Does that mean, I would have to wait up to 1 year before I can start renting it out ?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon Henrik,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      Yes, this is correct. We would recommend that you check if the tourist licence is possible prior to signing any purchase contract or paying any deposit to be on the safe side. If you need any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • yousef

    Hi,
    I would like to Lease a property/building to convert it to Hostel in Spain.
    Can you also help for Hostel Operating Licences ?
    Thanks.

    • Ian C.

      Hello Yousef,

      How are you doing?
      Thanks for enquiring about opening a hostel in Spain. We are delighted to help, naturally. Our Spanish engineer, Antonio is very knowledgeable and approachable.
      There are issues regarding the areas- For example licences are very different in Alicante than in Barcelona.
      Do you already have a location?
      Would you prefer for us to find you an existing property that is currently trading?
      We know a few properties here in Alicante which have been converted to accommodation/activity centres/yoga studios – that sort of thing.
      This might be a perfect business- you get to live in Spain and earn some money too. I know a guy who is interested in running diving tours just south of La Manga. The clients stay with him and he organises diving daily for his guests.
      I see flights are returning to Spain in June according to Easyjet this morning.
      Please send us some more information and we can start the ball rolling then.

      Kind wishes,

      Ian

  • Elena

    Guten Morgen, wie lange dauert das Lizence? Kann man einen pre-Nummer bekommen ? Mit freundlichen Grüßen

    • Ian C.

      Hallo,

      Ja, wir können die Nummer für Sie beantragen und Sie können dann mit der Anmietung der Wohnung beginnen.

      Wo ist die Wohnung bitte?

      Grüße,

      Ian

  • Joyce

    Hi
    What are the requirements for renting a 2 bed self contained unit on the same site as your residential home both built on rustic land ? Tourism licence is a bit confusing !

    • Ian C.

      Hi Joyce
      Elche is a lovely area. We would need more details on your compatibilidad and habitation certificates. Please contact us and we can discuss the process and how we can obtain the Licence for you.
      Regards
      Jane

  • Joyce

    Sorry forgot to say which area it’s in Elche

    • Ian C.

      Thanks Joyce

  • Alex Fenn

    Hi, similar to Darren, we are looking to buy a property near Xativa to live in with outbuildings that we can use for people to stay in when we run wellness retreats, but in between retreats we would want to be able to rent the properties out as holiday lets. Could we still just get a business license for this rather than a tourist license?
    And Darren, if you see this, how are you getting on?

    • Jane

      Hi Alex

      You would require to check with your Town Hall as this can vary across provinces.

      Kind Regards

      Jane

  • Henk Pijnappels

    Good afternoon,

    We received our official registration at Bureau Turismo this week.

    Maybe you can tell us where we can find the red sign for at the gate.
    Greetings,
    Henk Pijnappels
    Hondon de los Frailes

    • Jane

      Hi Henk

      We can order the sign for you and post out or you can collect, it is 45 euros plus VAT and postage.

      Kind Regards

      Jane

  • Rachel Almit

    Hi there

    I have emailed yourselves regarding the tourist license application we started in Jan 2018 but had no reply. We finally obtained the certificate in Jan 2019. Please could you update me on our tourist license application?

    • Jane

      Hi Rachel

      Apologies for the delay the team will look at your application and respond to you directly with an update.

      Kind Regards

      Jane

  • John Brookes

    Hi I have a one bedroom self contained wood cabin cabin on my property and wish to use as an Airbnb. What will I need to do .

    • Jane

      Hi John

      You will need to obtain a tourist licence. The first step is to contact your Town Hall to check this is possible. If you need any help after that please give us a call.

      Kind Regards

      Jane

  • Kim R

    Hi, What is the shortest period I can rent my property without requiring a Tourist Licence please? Is this type of rental called a “Short Term Let”?

    • Jane

      Hi Kim

      The guidance is not so much about length of time, they say that if the renters are living in Spain so they are not tourists, then a license is not needed. However if it is holiday rental, we can say less than three months, without any rental agreement then it is considered short term rental and it needs a licence.

      Hope this helps. Kind Regards

      Jane

  • Hans

    Hi,

    We are looking into buying a villa somewhere inland Alicante (region Hondon, Pinoso, La Romana …). We would use this property as our holiday home during 5-6 weeks a year, and try to rent it out to tourist for some other weeks.
    We heard obtaining a tourist license is complicated and sometimes impossible in this region… Is this correct ?
    Is there somewhere a website where we can see which townhalls do no longer issue these licenses ?

    Thanks for shedding some light,
    Hans

    • Jane

      Hi Hans

      I have e mailed you direct to see if we can assist you with the Tourist Licence application.

      Kind Regards

      Jane

  • David Palmer

    Hi, we are looking at buying a villa in the Los Alcazares area. We intend to live there from Sept to May approx and rent it out for the summer months. Is this a possibility of does it class as work/earnings and therefore require a work permit? We do not intend to get a job in Spain but will continue to run a UK rental business for our main income.
    Regards, David

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Afternoon David,

      Exciting times ahead for you. Los Alcazares is a beautiful area and not too far from our office. Should you need any assistance with finding your dream property or securing it, please do not hesitate to contact us, we would be delighted to help you in any way we can.

      If you are receiving an income from the rental, tax would need to be paid on this. In regard to your length of stay, if you hold a British passport, and want to stay for longer than 90 days, a visa may be required. Please see a link to the Spanish Consulates website below. All visas have to be requested from the consulate by the person themselves, we hope this helps.

      http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/LONDRES/en/Consulado/Pages/Visas.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3mSiMuwaKldYr62JJvZhvMbTTaxa_vUn1a04WFVCmO8lmtTRBzbIyOEUs

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Annabella Foulkes

    Hi,
    I am looking to rent a property in Spain on a long term let. I then want to rent out a room or put tents on the land. Would I need a tourism licence for this? Or does the owner of the property have to get this? Or do we both have to get this. I just want to move to Spain and try and make enough money to live on whilst I am here.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Afternoon Annabella,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      It is very important that you make your intentions clear when enquiring about the properties as many long term rental contracts have a clause where you can not sub let the property or any part of it. In regard to adding tents and renting out the room, this would be classes as a “hostel”, for this you would need to register and run a company, obtain certain licences ect.. This may not be possible if you do not own the property.

      A tourist licence is required when you rent out the property as a whole, for holiday lets, the owner of the property would have to make the application for the tourist licence, we hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Soher Zaatra

    I own a one-bedroom apartment in Fuengirola, Spain. I’m looking to issue a holiday rental license, how much do you charge for your services, and can the process be done remotely?

    • Tracie Miles

      Good afternoon Soher
      Can you please provide us with the Catastral Reference of the property and we can then provide you with a quotation. Thank you.
      Kind regards
      Tracie

  • Ann

    What is the difference between a VT and an AT number?

    • Tracie Miles

      Hi Ann
      Thank you for your enquiry. A VT is requested by a private owner and an AT is requested via an Agency.
      Hope this helps
      Regards
      Tracie

  • Marilyn Rooney

    Jane replied to a question about the necessity of obtaining a tourist license on 14 January 2021. She said “The guid­ance is not so much about length of time, they say that if the renters are liv­ing in Spain so they are not tour­ists, then a li­cense is not needed”. Can you confirm that this is the case, and if I only let my apartment in Alicante province to Spanish people I do not need to obtain a license. Thank you

    • Tracie Miles

      Hi Marilyn
      I did email you earlier.
      A Tourist Licence is required for holiday lets only.
      Hope this helps
      Regards
      Tracie

  • Joe

    Good morning. I am looking at new building projects in the
    Benissa area. Is it a issue to apply for a tourism license in this area and also is there a minimum amount of years since
    Property has been built that can apply for a tourist license. Also I am a British passport holder but Swiss resident. Many thanks.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Joe,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      Exciting times ahead for you, have you seen a property you like?

      We would always recommend that you check with the local town hall, to confirm if the tourist licence is possible, before signing any purchase contract or paying a deposit. We have had many situations where the agent confirmed the tourist licence was possible, the client purchased the property and this was not the case.

      We would be delighted to help you with the check, we would need a copy of the IBI bill (council tax bill) or the catastral reference. You should be able to get this from the agent or the builder. We will contact you to discuss this matter further.

      Should you need any assistance with the legal side of your purchase, we would be delighted to help you with this also.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Louise Davies

    I’m looking to buy in Valencia, we especially love the bocairent area but I don’t mind where but within 1 hour from the airport. My question is this – how difficult is it to get a tourist licence for am area which is in a natural park ( like bocairent for example) there are rules I know to do with changes to the buildings, trees etc but what about having people stay with us ( like a b and b(

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Louise,

      Exciting times ahead for you, Valencia is a beautiful part of Spain.

      We know that not all properties in the Valencian area will get a Tourist licence, For example: it is not possible in the whole “centro historico”, inside the old doors and also in the first line in front of the sea as it is affected by coast law. If it is an apartment it is not allowed if you have a neighbour living next door or below, it should be the sole property on the floor or a ground floor with a local underneath. We would recommend checking with the local town hall, if the tourist licence is possible before signing any purchase contract or paying any deposit. Should you need any assistance with this please come back to us, all we need is a copy of the properties recent council tax bill which can be obtained from the agent selling the property.

      To act as a B&B, this would be classes as “hostel” and would require you set up a business and obtain the relevant opening licences from the local townhall. We will contact you directly to discuss this and your property search.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

      We hope this helps
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Karen

    We are in receipt of a secondary habitation licence which we purchased from the town hall. Our property is situated on rustic land. We are told by neighbour that our property is probably about 100+ years although the escruitura says about 48 years! We want to offer hiking tours with accomodation for a small amount of visitors (about 6-8) and want to know if a certificate of compatability would be required prior to the application of a tourist licence. How likely are we to get one? Or would it be under a different classification such as casa rural. What are the minimum land requirements? We’ve been told different things from 5,000/10,000 +. Valencia region. Can you advise on the process?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Good Morning Karen,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      A tourist licence is required when you rent your full property out, and you do not live there at the same time as your guests. If you want to provide a service, like a B&B hostel, you would need an opening licence from your local town hall and to start a business. We would be delighted to arrange a Skype call with our Fiscal Advisors who would discuss this in more detail. We hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Kostas

    Dear All, when making reservation in AIr b&B or Booking where may I find info on the license of the house I want to rent. I want to be sure that there is no problem with insurance for example and not having surprises. Thanks

    • Nicola Ryan

      Afternoon Kostas,

      It is best to check this with the rental platforms directly, as each company may be different. We hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Renee

    Hello,
    We are looking at buying a property in Malaga Inland.
    We want to find something that has a large piece of land, over 10,000sqm and two to three dwellings to rent out. I know we will need a rental license.
    Is it possible to rent out (holiday rental) a yurt or non-fixed dwelling at all? I’ve seen many on Airbnb, and I’m wondering if it’s legal and worth looking into.
    Thank you.

    • Ian C.

      Hello Renee,

      Thanks for getting in touch with Spanish Solutions.
      You did well to find everything under one roof. That is what we provided our 10,000 clients with since 2005.
      We have a wonderful contact in the Malaga area who will find us the perfect property. Before you make an offer or indeed do any viewings, we’d like to make sure the property is legal and rentable. Ana in our La Zenia office will take care of the tourist licence and we’ll deal with all the legal aspects of your case too.
      You’ll need an NIE number, maybe a visa, a Spanish will, etc.
      We take care of everything for you!

      We’ll be in touch on email.

      kind wishes,

      Ian
      PS Do you need currency exchange? What about a Spanish mortgage? We can save you many thousands on these two services alone.

  • Ciprian

    Hi,
    I’m interested in buying a flat in Alicante city and rent it via AirBnB. I’m interested what are the specific conditions for the flat to obtain a touristic license. I’ve seen lots of confusing posts – like it has to on the ground floor, or ground floor and first floor only, etc. Does the area matters ? And what else should I take in consideration? Don’t want to buy a flat and then discover I can not obtain the touristic license. Thank you!

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Ciprian,

      If you are purchasing a property with the intent of renting it out, we would strongly recommend that you check if the tourist licence is possible before paying any deposit or signing any contract. We have had many clients who were advised the tourist licence was possible by the agent and after completion they discovered this was not the case.

      We offer this check as part of our conveyancing service and would be delighted to help you. We are based in La Zenia which is around 40 minutes drive from Alicante city. We will contact you to discuss this matter further.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Isabel

    Hi. I want to buy a flat to rent through airbnb in Alicante close to castellano de Santa Barbara. Could you tell me please all requirements needed?
    Many thanks
    Isabel

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Isabel,

      Exciting times ahead and Alicante is not too far from our office.

      There are some areas of exclusion in the Alicante city area, where the tourist licence will not be granted. We would strongly recommend that you check with the town hall, if the tourist licence is possible, before signing any purchase contract or paying any deposits. You will need a copy of the SUMA bill from the agent or owner selling the property.

      Should you need any help with your property search, property purchase or the tourist licence, please get in touch. We would check if the tourist licence is possible as part of our conveyancing package. We will contact you directly to discuss this matter further.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Lisa

    Is it a legal requirement and what is the reason for having to register a rented villa (with the correct tourist licence) with Guardia Civil?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Lisa,

      It is a legal requirement to obtain a tourist licence for a property which is rented out for holiday lets.

      It is also a legal requirement to register the people staying in the property with the Guarda Civil. This also has to be done by hotels.

      In our opinion it is to safe guard the public/community. Should any criminal acts take place, the police have the details and passports of the people staying at the property/hotel.

      We hope this answers your question.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Nibs

    Hi, I plan to buy a 160sq meter apartment with 6 bedroom and 3 bathrooms in Alicante. Then get a tourist license. When renting it on airbnb/rental portals, is it legally possible with tourist licence to rent out the bedrooms separately? What are the rules regarding renting bedrooms separately? How much number of people can live in an apartment of this size?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Nibs,

      A tourist licence would be used to rent it the property as a whole, not a bedroom.

      To rent rooms out and stay in the property would be classed as a “hostel/B&B”, in this case you would need to have a company and apply for the relevant opening licences at the town hall.

      Should you need any assistance with your property search, opening of the company or tourist licence, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be delighted to help.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Simon

    Hi -I have a few questions

    1. If I rent to just friends and family do i need a licence, if no money changes hands?
    2, Does the above change if they pay a contribution just for utilities used?
    3. If we need a licence so we can rent to friends and family then how does the taxation work – do we declare how much has been paid per quarter and associated costs and pay tax on the difference and if so how much tax will be levied on the rental profits?

    Thanks

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Simon,

      If you allow friends and family to stay in your property for holidays, and no money changes hand, you do not need a tourist licence. If you decide to obtain a tourist licence and get a rental income from this you would need to pay taxes. Please see a link below discussing this in more detail:

      https://www.spanishsolutions.net/blog/property-in-spain/tax-on-rental-income-in-spain-2/

      Should you need any assistance with either of these please let us know.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Mark Russell

    Hi, I live in El Campello and we are thinking of renting out our spare room to tourists in the summer and foreign language students in the winter. Would we need a license for this?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Mark,

      A tourist licence is only for a whole property rental. If you want to rent out a room, while living in the property, you would need to register a company as a hostel/B&B and obtain the relevant opening licences from the local town hall.

      Should you need any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact us.
      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Oggi

    Hello , if i buy apartment in Alicante how many times a year can i rented? Is it any restriction from the owner associations.
    Can i obtain tourist license in Port Saplaya Alboraya, which is 4 km out of Valencia city. Cani obtain tourist license on townhouse in urbanization?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Afternoon Oggi,

      We received your enquiry via email also and have replied via this channel.

      It is very important that you check if the tourist licence is possible before paying any deposit or signing any purchase contract.

      As previously offered we can deal with this as part of our conveyancing package, and when the property is in your name we would apply for the tourist licence. We look forward to your reply.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Tina

    Hello, we plan to buy a property in Alicante, Playa de San Juan Area. Can you provide a more concrete definition for holiday Lets? If we offer a lease of 3 or 6 months, do I need the VT? Will it be easier to obtain an AT? Thank you in advance for your reply.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Tina,

      A holiday let is a short term let, this can be from anything from 1 week up to 3 months. If you are purchasing a property for the purpose of letting it our for short term lets, we would recommend that you check if the tourist licence is possible before signing any purchase contract or paying a deposit, as not all properties can obtain the tourist licence. We can help you with this as part of our conveyancing package, we would also arrange the tourist licence after the completion of the property sale.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • An

    Hello, am looking to buy an appartment in Altea partly own use partly for renting short term.
    Is there a way to know if tourist license will be provided before I actually buy the property?
    Is there an expiration date on a tourist licence? Do you have to renew it or once obtained is enough?
    Thanks in advance, An

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry An,

      Yes, you can check if the tourist licence is possible before you purchase the property. You would need to check if the tourist licence is possible with the local town hall, you would need a copy of the council tax bill (IBI bill). There is no expiry on the tourist licence. If the property already has a tourist licence, this can be changed into your name.

      Should you need any assistance with this ,please let us know. We do offer the checking of the tourist licence as part of our conveyancing package, then when the sale is complete we would apply for the tourist licence on your behalf.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Joanna

    I am buying a property in Torrevieja that already has a tourist licence. Do tourist licences expire?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Joanna,

      The tourist licence does not expire, however, it would need to be changed into your name. Should you need any assistance with the property purchase, please do not hesitate to contact us. The name change is included in this service.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Steve K

    Buenos dias ! Can you kindly advise approximate time for a VT Tourist License for Altea / Altea la Vella in Alicante Province ? Assuming all paperwork filed is in order. We are looking at purchasing a home there as EU citizens (Non-Spanish resident). Idea is to live there outside of the high season – long term rental paradigm otherwise. Judging from your excellent blog, suspect we are well advised to compel the seller to handle all those formalities en toto.

    Separately, would welcome your good suggestions regarding firms that can execute the quarterly 19% tourist income tax payments due. Many thanks.

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Steve,

      It can take from 9-12 months to obtain the tourist licence, we can help you should you wish.

      You commented “suspect we are well advised to compel the seller to handle all those formalities en toto.” can we confirm what the seller would be dealing with for you. If it is the touris licence, it would be best to apply for this once you have bought the house and it is in your name, otherwise a name change would be required.

      In regards to the rental tax, we can help you with this also. We will contact you directly to discuss this matter further.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Mia

    Hello, I’m finalising purchase of property with tourist licence. I was just made aware only today that in order to rent it out, I have to transfer the licence to my name. I’d be fine with that however Im not able to travel to Spain now (valencia region) to apply (was advised that certificate digital is needed). My question is, can I still let it legally now even though it is not transferred yet and will not be until my next trip to Spain (that would be around October? Pretty frustrated in fairness. Thank you

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Mia,

      We can help you with the digital signature which can be done remotely, you do not need to be in Spain for this. It would be in the best interest of the sellers to change the name on the tourist licence to prevent any liability with rental tax. We hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • Zol

    Good afternoon!
    Thank you for this topic it is very informative!
    I’d like to get information about the tourist license, we have a property agent who said he will help with the license in Torrevieja, My parents payed a fee (400eu) about 2 month ago and they said that minimum another 2 month waiting time till we can get any news. I just read it here that as soon as we hand in the documents we can rent out the property.
    He says he can’t put it on the market till we have the actual license.
    Is that true?

    The property is empty since may, before we had a family there for long term by this agent, they damaged a lots of thing and also when they moved out they robbed the fully furnished house, left nothing there but cockroaches:(

    I am about to speak to my parents to leave that agent and his friend who is our solicitor and start working with your firm,

    Thank you for your help in advance

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry Zol,

      You can legally rent your property out once you have the compatibility report and have the stamped application showing you have submitted the application for the tourist licence. If you have a property agent and they are advertising via a website, they will require the tourist licence number. The process to get the tourist licence can take from 9-12 months, depending on the area and town hall dealing with the compatibility report. We hope this helps.

      Kind regards
      Nicola

  • HK

    Hello,
    I don’t know if this thread is still active but I’ll try.

    We have just bought a house in Alicante and we are opening to move there in the near future (6 to 12 months).
    Is it possible to rent short term without a tourist license? Can it be rented to visa holders such as digital nomads visa holders etc?

    • Nicola Ryan

      Thank you for your enquiry HK,

      If you rent your property out for short lets (anything under 3 months) and you receive money for this, you need a tourist licence. If the rental is for 3 month and over you need a rental agreement.You can rent your property to whomever you wish but will need one of the above.

      Should you need any assistance with the tourist licence or rental contract, please do not hesitate to contact us.

      Nicola

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