By Molly Grace
Copyright euroweeklynews
Short-term holiday rentals, known in Spain as VUTs (“Viviendas de Uso Turístico”), are apartments or houses rented to tourists instead of long-term residents. These rentals have surged across Costa Blanca South, including Alicante city, Torrevieja, and Orihuela Costa, raising concerns about housing availability, community life, and the local economy.
To manage the growth of VUTs, Spain introduced a mandatory national registry (Número de Registro de Alquiler, NRA) for all tourist rental properties. Platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com are required to verify listings, with tens of thousands of non-compliant ads removed nationally, including around 700 in Torrevieja. Communities of owners can also block new rentals if a majority agrees, giving residents greater control over how properties are used. According to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during a visit to Malaga on Sunday 14, the revoked properties will be converted into long-term rental housing, providing much-needed homes for young people and local families.
Local authorities have taken further action. Alicante city implemented a two-year moratorium on new VUT licences that started on January 13, which was expanded in July this year to include apartment blocks, hostels, and pensions citywide while a full study is conducted. In Orihuela and Torrevieja, new VUTs require community approval, with a three-fifths majority needed for tourist use, following reforms to the ‘Ley de Propiedad Horizontal’ effective as of April 3, These measures aim to balance tourism growth with housing availability and community wellbeing.
Residents report significant changes in daily life. Speaking to Euro Weekly News Paul, a long-term resident of Torrevieja, explains: “I used to come to the Alicante area on holiday every summer for the past 15 years, and I moved here four years ago. In the past few years I feel everything is being replaced to suit tourists, prices for long term rents are through the roof and that’s if you can find a place to rent! Crime rate has definitely surged in my opinion and that comes with the rentals as people are struggling, It does make the tourist spend more at the restaurants, though, as they don’t want to cook on holiday, Im guessing those who want to save money cook in their rental accommodation and that must also affect local restaurants. During the summer months, it’s near impossible to find parking, and the prices go up, which of course impacts residents too so it just makes it harder to live.”
While holiday rentals bring more visitors and boost tourism spending, they also contribute to rising rents, limit housing options for locals, and alter the character of communities. Protests across Alicante province have highlighted these tensions, with residents calling for “zona tensionada” protections to safeguard neighbourhoods. Demonstrations in Torrevieja, Alicante city, and Orihuela reflect widespread concern about the social and economic impact of unregulated Airbnb and other VUT rentals. Economically, short-term rentals create both challenges and opportunities. Local restaurants, bars, and shops benefit from the influx of tourists, while traditional hotels sometimes face reduced occupancy. At the same time, authorities’ actions to revoke and regulate Airbnb and VUT listings are helping to address housing shortages and affordability issues in the region.
Balancing tourism growth with local needs remains a pressing challenge for Costa Blanca region. As regulations evolve and residents’ voices grow louder, communities are seeking ways to ensure that Airbnb and other short-term rentals support the local economy without undermining housing, safety, or quality of life.
