Holiday Rental Association rejects use of ‘illegal’ label for unlicensed properties in the Canaries
The Canary Islands Holiday Rental Association (ASCAV) has strongly criticised the Spanish Government’s call to remove thousands of short-term rental listings that lack official licences.
On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged digital platforms to withdraw around 53,000 “illegal” holiday rental adverts across Spain. In the Canary Islands, the Ministry of Housing has specifically demanded the removal of 8,698 listings.
“Not illegal, just unregistered”
ASCAV argues that calling these properties “illegal” is misleading, stating that the absence of a registration number does not automatically mean a property is unlawful. According to the association, it is the responsibility of the Canary Islands’ regional authorities to revoke licences or authorisations if necessary.
The group also disputes the government’s claim that removing unlicensed holiday rentals will push properties into the long-term housing market. “That announcement is far from reality,” ASCAV said, pointing out that no administration promising such measures has ever succeeded in shifting properties into residential supply.
Limited real impact
In ASCAV’s view, the only direct effect of excluding properties from official registers will be that they cannot be marketed through major booking websites. They insist that assuming these homes will then be taken up by young people or families “will only happen if the current Housing Law is repealed and legal certainty restored for landlords.”
Instead, the association predicts two likely outcomes:
- The homes will continue to be rented out informally for short stays, bypassing major platforms.
- Owners may withdraw them from the market altogether, adding to the stock of unused, empty properties.
This debate highlights the ongoing tension between Spain’s national housing policy and the Canary Islands’ reliance on tourism, where holiday rentals play a major role in both the economy and local housing pressures.
Share:
