Service 06
Holiday Lets
Applying for a holiday-let licence in the Valencian Community
The paperwork for a holiday-let licence can get involved and usually calls for professional advice. We guide you from buying the property through to the final licence being granted. We also prepare the evacuation plan.
What is a holiday let?
In Spain each autonomous community has its own rules. In the Valencian Community it is a property let for tourism purposes for fewer than 10 days to the same tenant. If it is let for more than 10 days or for another purpose, it may count as a seasonal let.
Where we work
We work mainly in Torrevieja and across the Vega Baja del Segura.
- Torrevieja
- Orihuela
- Orihuela Costa
- La Zenia
- Playa Flamenca
- Guardamar del Segura
- Rojales
- Ciudad Quesada
- Pilar de la Horadada
What types of letting are there?
There are three types, according to the length and purpose of the let.
| Type of letting | Governing law | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main residence | Urban Tenancies Act 29/1994 | Main residence | Indefinite |
| Seasonal let | Urban Tenancies Act 29/1994 | Work, medical treatment, administrative matters… Also tourism if it runs longer than 10 days | Under 10 days: cannot be touristic. Over 10 days: touristic use allowed |
| Holiday let | Decree 10/2021 of 22 January, of the Consell | Tourism | 10 days or fewer |
What does each type require?
Some of the differences, without claiming to be exhaustive.
| Type of letting | Consent of the owners’ association | Licence | Other documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main residence | Not required | No | Public liability insurance |
| Seasonal let | Not required | No | Public liability insurance |
| Holiday let | Yes. Express approval by a three-fifths majority; it is not enough for the association to accept holiday lets in general | Yes | Public liability insurance · Guest insurance · Complaints book · House rules · Official plaque and evacuation plan on the door |
How it works
The process for obtaining the licence
Once you engage us you will not have to worry about a thing. These are the steps we work through.
- 01
Declaration of second occupancy
This is the habitation certificate you should already have from when you bought the property. If you do not have it yet, you can commission it from us here.
- 02
Planning compatibility
The town hall has to issue a report stating that it permits holiday-let use at that location.
- 03
Holiday-let licence
Once everything is in place, the final licence is applied for from the regional government. You will need a digital signature for this step; if you do not have one, we will advise you.
How long does it take to get the licence?
Of the whole process, the only step that takes a serious amount of time is planning compatibility. It can take anything from a few weeks to several months or over a year: it depends on the town hall, so it differs from one place to another. If the timescale matters to you, tell us, and if we think it will take a long time we will try to find an alternative.
Frequently asked
What people ask us most
The rules on holiday lets are recent and have changed constantly over the past few years, so having questions is entirely normal. Here we answer a few.
What happens if I let my licensed holiday property for more than 10 days?
The rules say that if you hold a holiday-let licence and the property is entered on the register, during that time you may not let it for any use other than a holiday let. Doing so can mean the licence is revoked. To avoid that, for any period you are not going to let it as a holiday property you have to notify the register that you will not be using it as such.
Can I let my holiday property room by room?
No, that is expressly prohibited. Holiday properties are let as a whole, however large they are and however many bedrooms they have. Letting room by room counts as a different use, closer to a guest house or hostel, and we would then be talking about a commercial activity.
Opening licencesDoes the holiday-let licence last forever?
No, it expires after 5 years. It can, however, be renewed before that time is up.
What requirements does my property have to meet?
On the one hand, the property has to comply with whichever habitation rules apply to it. That compliance is evidenced by the habitation certificate, which forms part of the process needed to make the application.
On the other hand, Decree 10/2021 of 22 January, of the Consell, lists further requirements. We have prepared this PDF setting them out, so you know what your property has to meet.
Annex III · Holiday-let requirementsWant to rent your home to tourists? We will tell you whether it qualifies and handle the whole procedure.
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