Nowadays, it is more and more common to have a holiday home, and short-term rentals can be a great idea to help fund its upkeep. If you have a property in Spain and you are letting it out as touristic rental, either occasionally or on a regular basis, you must comply with certain legal requirements that vary from region to region, as each region has specific laws.
For example, in the autonomous region of Valencia the requirements are the following :
- LICENSE NUMBER
First of all, you must obtain a license number, issued by the Valencian Tourism Registry (“Registro de Turismo de la Comunidad Valenciana). This number will be required to advertise your property on agencies and rental platforms such as Airbnb, HomeAway, etc.
- HABITATION CERTIFICATE
You also must obtain the “Habitation Certificate” (cédula de habitabilidad), which is a certificate confirming that the property complies with all the habitation requirements. It was probably given to you when you bought your home, but if not, you can apply for a copy at the Town Hall. In addition to this, the property must be fully furbished and in perfect hygiene condition.
- FAVOURABLE REPORT ON URBAN COMPATIBILITY
Since 2018 it is also compulsory to obtain a “favourable report on urban compatibility” (informe favorable de compatibilidad urbanistica) that is also issued by the local authorities.
- OFFICIAL COMPLAINT FORMS must be available for tenants.
- LOCAL POLICE STATION Last but not least, it is compulsory to keep a record of all the tenants, including full name and copy of their passports, which shall be sent to the Local Police Station (Policía o Guardia Civil).
It is essential to respect these requirements, as well as to declare your rental income and pay the corresponding taxes, to avoid any possible penalties and fines.
Our Firm can help you to register your property and to obtain any missing documents. As tax advisers, we can also help you to fill in the necessary tax forms and deduct expenses to reduce the tax to be paid.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information on this topic. We will be delighted to help !
