Since July 1, 2025, Spain has implemented a single registry for short-term rentals., which particularly affects owners and platforms of tourist, seasonal and room accommodations. This measure is the result of the regulations promoted by Royal Decree 1312/2024 and European Regulation 2024/1028, and will be consolidated as one of the key tools for end fraud in the sector and improve transparency in the temporary rental market.
The procedure, which is now fully in force, seeks to facilitate more efficient and supervised management of tourist and seasonal rentals, responding to the growing social and political concern regarding the rise of these accommodation models. Furthermore, Spain is ahead of the rest of the EU countries in applying this regulation., becoming a pioneer in the control of this type of rental.
Who is affected by the new registration and what does it entail?
The regulations are clear: All properties intended for tourist, seasonal or room use, advertised on transactional platforms online, are required to have a official registration number to operate legally. Owners of tourist apartments, boats, and naval vessels must also comply with this requirement when their assets are rented for commercial or short-stay purposes. However, Does not apply to hotels, aparthotels, hostels, campsites or caravan areas, which have their own sectoral regulations.
Exempt from this obligation are homes rented outside the digital environment or on websites that only act as a showcase (without a booking engine or online payments), as well as advertisements published on classified ad portals such as Idealista or Fotocasa.
The registration number works as a unique identifier, granted after validation by the College of Registrars or the Registry of Movable Property, and must be visible in all advertisements published on digital platforms. Without this number, it will not be possible to advertise or formalize short-term rental contracts on these portals.Fines for non-compliance can exceed 500.000 euros, depending on the autonomous community in which the property is located.
How to apply for a registration number and what are the requirements for obtaining it?
The application is preferably made through the digital one-stop shop for leasing, accessible from the College of Registrars' website. To complete the procedure, you will need to provide Cadastral reference, complete address of the accommodation, rental model, number of occupants allowed, corresponding licenses and certificates required by the autonomous community or city council. It can also be submitted in person at the property registry, along with the required documentation.
The cost to apply for the registration number is around 27 euros plus tax upon request. The system is automatic, and if the submission has errors, The owner has seven business days to correct them.
Once the documentation has been reviewed, the owner first receives a provisional code and, after validation, a definitive number. It is essential to have the corresponding administrative licenses, since Registrations will not be granted without them.
The assigned registration number does not expire or require renewal, although it is mandatory to submit an annual information form confirming that the property continues to comply with regulations.
Obligations of digital platforms and controls
The main tourist rental platforms, such as Airbnb, Booking or Expedia, must send monthly to the Digital Single Window Detailed information on each property listed. The required data includes the Identity of the owner (host), registration number, exact address of the accommodation and URLs of the listings, through systems of machine-to-machine communication to ensure accuracy and periodicity.
For microplatforms or smaller startups, these submissions will be made quarterly. If a platform fails to verify the validity of an ad's registration number, it must remove the content and notify the authorities. Pages that operate solely as a showcase and do not manage reservations are exempt from this obligation.
El Ministry of Housing coordinates the system, which is responsible for analyzing records and detecting potential irregularities, in collaboration with autonomous communities and city councils. The main objective is to have a complete and reliable database on the temporary rental housing stock. combat the underground economy, fraud and unfair competition.
Impact in figures and reactions
Since the entry into force, applications exceed 215.000 nationwide, with more than 94.000 active registrations, around 103.000 provisional registrations, and more than 18.000 revoked due to incidents. The provinces with the highest volume are the most touristic, such as Malaga, Gran Canaria, Alicante, the Balearic Islands, and BarcelonaIn the Balearic Islands, nearly 12.600 owners have already registered, mostly for vacation rentals, and many applications remain active on the island.
Reactions are varied: the central government argues that it will help combat illegal accommodation and curb rising housing prices, while some autonomous communities and tourism sector associations believe it encroaches on their powers and could reduce legal supply, affecting the local economy and many families who depend on tourist rentals.
Spain has been a pioneer in implementing the single register in Europe, and its model will likely serve as a reference for other countries in the coming years.
El The implementation of the single registry for short-term rentals represents a structural change for the tourism and rental sector in Spain.Landlords and platforms must comply with stricter regulations, while public administrations will have greater control and access to information. The initiative seeks to promote transparency, reduce fraud, and guarantee access to housing, despite the challenges and controversies that may arise during its implementation.
