✨ Big news for holiday rental owners in Andalucía! ✨
Tourist licences are now officially tied to the property — not the owner. That means if you buy or sell a rental home, the licence stays in place ✅. More value, more security, less hassle.
☀️ With the Costa del Sol leading the way, this change brings exciting opportunities for both investors and travellers.
Tourist Rental Licences in Andalucía Now Stay with the Property
A recent ruling from Spain’s Ministry of Justice has clarified an important point for property owners in Andalucía: tourist rental licences are linked to the property, not the individual owner.
This means that when a holiday rental property is sold, its licence automatically transfers to the new owner—provided the property still meets the requirements set by regional regulations. The ruling gives more stability to the sector, ensuring that legal rentals can continue without unnecessary delays or reapplications.
Previously, Andalucía’s tourism department (Turismo) maintained that licences could not be transferred with a sale. This new interpretation changes that, confirming that the licence is an attribute of the property itself, which adds to its value and investment security.
What Changed?
The case that led to this decision began in Torremolinos, when a property owner appealed after the land registry refused to recognise a licence because the registered owner was not the same as the one listed on the regional tourism register. After several appeals, the Ministry of Justice overruled the registry, stating that the licence remains valid as long as the dwelling continues to meet legal standards.
Industry representatives, such as Juan Cubo from Avva-Pro, welcomed the decision, highlighting that it brings much-needed clarity and legal certainty. New owners will still need to notify authorities of the change of ownership and respect any restrictions set by homeowners’ associations, but they won’t need to reapply for a brand-new licence.
The ruling comes as the holiday rental market in Andalucía continues to grow. As of August, more than 150,000 properties are registered for tourist use across the region, offering close to 790,000 beds. Malaga province alone accounts for 86,557 of these properties, with Marbella and Malaga city leading the numbers.