How to Secure Your Property in Spain’s 2025 Rental Law?

As a homeowner, investor, or someone managing a holiday rental in Spain, you’re probably wondering: Is it safe to buy property in Spain right now? The answer is, yes! If you’re thinking about entering the Spanish property market, with the country’s thriving tourism sector, it’s a safe journey to make real estate investment here! In particular, homeowners in the country tend to prefer short-term rentals due to their high profit potential. However, recent changes in rental laws in Spain and increasing Airbnb restrictions have created uncertainty among both new and seasoned property owners. Many foreign property owners are concerned about how these regulations will affect their finances, legal responsibilities, and overall investment.

The truth is, the real estate market of the country is still full of excellent opportunities for you. With the right planning, expertise, and proactive measures, you can continue protecting your property and invest safely. This guide will help you discover how to protect your own rights as a property owner, how to move through today's world of short-term rental regulations and what you need to know to make smart decisions to gain stable rental income in Spain. Whether you're already renting out a home or thinking of making your first investment in safe places to live in Spain​, understanding these will keep you in business and in profit.

What to Do About Buy-to-Let Property Risks in Spain Under New Rental Laws?

The Spanish rental property market is embracing significant legal reforms as of 2025, and if you like to invest in buy-to-let options, especially in short-term rentals, these reforms will probably have a direct effect on you. Therefore, you might want to know how the latest changes in rental laws in Spain, which may affect your rental yields and your rights. Below are some of the challenges and solutions for investing in Spain real estate safely.

1. Compulsory Community Authorization for Short-Term Rentals:

As of April 3, 2025, due to changes in Spain's Horizontal Property Law, you will need to obtain approval from your building's Comunidad de Propietarios (owners' association) to use your property as a tourist rental. This leads to a big shift in the property market of the country. In the past, short-term rentals were generally permitted unless explicitly prohibited by the community. But now, they must be formally authorized which means that you’ll need at least a 60% majority vote from your neighbors.For international property owners, this shift has introduced doubts about Airbnb restrictions along with the long-term rental options.

2. Tighter Licensing and Registration Rules in Spain:

Under the new regulations, you must now register your property with the new National Short-Term Rental Registry and obtain a unique identification number to legally rent your property. And not meeting local requirements can result in fines and removal from short-term rental platforms. It’s also important to note that each region in the country​ has its own rules for short-term lets. Some of these regions offering safe places to live in Spain are fairly strict, especially in high-demand tourist areas. And in this case, awareness and compliance are your best tools to ensure your rental gains to stay profitable.

3. Rental Price Controls for Large Landlords:

The new rental law reforms in Spain also introduce rent ceilings in designated "stressed market areas." If you own five or more rental homes, you’re now considered a large landlord. This is a significant change from the previous ones. Thus, it means that you might be subject to stricter controls on how much rent you can charge. So these changes could affect your income when you are investing in short-term rental properties in Spain along with your long-term buy-to-let investment strategy.

How to Secure Your Property in Spain?

With the evolving regulatory landscape in Spain, securing your property legally is more important than ever today. By following these steps we have prepared, you can confidently protect your home and rights while some people still have questions like "Is Spain safe to live?" You can continue to benefit from Spain's short-let property market. Here are some tips for you to make sure your property is compliant and safeguarded towards Airbnb restrictions:

1. Save Your Property in the National Short-Term Rental Registry:

Starting from July 1, 2025, it is mandatory for all short-term rental properties in Spain to be registered in the National Register for Short-Term Rentals (Registro Nacional de Viviendas de Uso Turístico). This registry assigns a unique registration number (Número de Identificación Único) to each rental unit, regardless if it is an entire home, individual rooms, or even boats used for holiday accommodation. It can be done online through the official platform of the Spanish Land Registries Association (Colegio de Registradores).

We can say that you need to provide detailed property information, including address, cadastral reference, capacity, and ownership documents. This helps you facilitate the registration as easily and successfully as possible for your real estate investment in Spain. Once you are done with the registration, the number must be displayed in all your rental advertisements on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and others.

2. Obtain Required Local Licenses and Certificates:

Besides national registration, you’ll also need to secure any local tourist rental licenses or certificates of habitability (Cédula de Habitabilidad), depending on the region where your home is located in the country. With the support of these documents you can confirm that your property meets the required safety, habitability and zoning standards for short-term rentals.

It’s also significant to bear in mind that these rules can vary across jurisdictions. In that, there may be stricter rules or even temporary prohibitions on new licenses. So, it is always a good idea to keep abreast of your own local government's rules. You can take the time to get your home compliant with local regulations for maximum occupancy and required safety elements. Additionally, not only does this keep you compliant, but it also makes your property more appealing and your guests more comfortable as well.

3. Secure Homeowners’ Association Approval When Needed:

As we stated above, according to the new regulations for the Horizontal Property Law; if your property is in a multi-unit building, you’ll need to obtain approval from your Community of Owners (Comunidad de Propietarios) before offering it as a short-term rental in Spain. In short, a three-fifths majority vote is required to either authorize or restrict tourist rentals in the building.

To add a tip for you to take the 60% of vote, you can engage with your community early. For instance, you can start conversations with your neighbors and attend association meetings to explain your real estate investment plans. If you are transparent, it’s most likely that they will support you to avoid potential conflicts. This way, you can secure the approval you need to rent legally in safe places to live in Spain.

4. Cover Your Property with Insurance:

Since short-term rental properties carry specific risks such as guest-caused damage, theft, or liability claims. One of the smartest things you can do as a short-term rental host is to have real estate insurance in Spain. Ideal comprehensive insurance policies for your rental activities would protect your real estate investment in the country. Therefore, you can protect yourself from potential losses. Also, you can consider additional liability coverage for guest injuries or property damage as well.

5. Use Clear Rental Agreements for Professional Management:

Last but not least, you can put everything in writing from the start. As you can comprehend why, you can protect yourself from buy-to-let property risks in Spain by making a detailed rental agreement. It not only protects you legally but also sets the tone for a positive guest experience. If you won’t be managing the property yourself, don’t just hand over the keys to anyone. Take the time to find a reliable and professional property manager to prevent risks.

You can think of running a buy-to-let rental as a business. In this sense, the more professional and transparent you are, the more likely you are to earn great reviews, repeat bookings and stress-free hosting experience in the Spain short-let property market.

Overview of Spain’s Short-Let Property Market and Investment Opportunities

Although 2025 has brought significant changes that concern foreign property owners and investors, Spain continues to be a top destination for short-term rental investment with its thriving tourism sector and competitive rental yields. While tourist hubs like Costa del Sol, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands remain strong, restrictive legislation in cities like Madrid and Barcelona is prompting investors to find alternatives.

Also, emerging markets like Alicante and Murcia offer attractive yields with less onerous regulation. Investors are also considering more build-to-rent concepts in suburban areas. They are seen as more stable and regulatory certain by homeowners.

Thus, we can say that Spain's short-let real estate market still continues to be an excellent investment option. Compared to recent years, in 2025 and afterwards, your focus will be slightly different. It will be on knowing the rules and seeing your rental as a business. By partnering with Spain Homes® who understand the dynamics of the Spanish real estate market and possess local expertise, you can significantly reduce the risks and seize the best real estate investment opportunities the country has to offer for you!