Alicante tackles illegal holiday rentals

In Alicante, 73% of tourist apartments are rented out without the required permit, the city council reports. This coincides with the introduction of Spain’s new Airbnb law, which aims to better regulate holiday rentals. Popular areas such as San Juan Beach and the city centre often have unregistered holiday homes.

Moratorium

In response, the city has imposed a two-year moratorium on new holiday rental licenses. At the same time, owners in Alicante must register their properties in a government database, as required by a new law that has been in force since January 2025. This law aims to bring greater control and transparency to the holiday rental market.