Malaga has announced a ban on new short-term tourist rentals in 43 neighbourhoods, aiming to address concerns from residents about rising property prices linked to tourism.
In Malaga’s centre, short-term holiday rentals account for 65pc of total tourist accommodation there, according to a study conducted by local authorities.
This move aligns Malaga with Barcelona, which is also taking steps to regulate short-term rentals and reduce their impact on housing availability.
Residents have protested against high rents attributed to platforms like Airbnb, citing an influx of foreign remote workers and a preference from landlords for more profitable short-term rentals.
The city council plans to review the new restrictions annually and is considering imposing a tax on holiday home stays to support social rent subsidies, although this requires changes to national law.
