How to Obtain a Tourist Rental License? Practical Guide

Nowadays, those who have a second home or invest in real estate find a way to monetize the properties they do not occupy. If you are thinking of doing so, know that you must register it. It is mandatory.

Definition of local accommodation

From the outset, local accommodation establishments are considered to be those that provide remunerated temporary accommodation services to tourists, meeting the legal requirements.

Types of local accommodation

Local accommodation establishments are divided into four categories: houses; apartments; lodging establishments (which include hostels if they have dormitories with a capacity greater than guests in rooms); and rooms.

Preparation for registration

For registration, you will need to gather the following documentation and information:

- Copy of the Citizen Card/Passport of the holder of the exploitation or access code to the permanent certificate of commercial registration of the company;

- Copy of the urban property deed of the property, if it belongs to the holder of the exploitation;

- Term of responsibility signed by the holder of the exploitation, guaranteeing the suitability of the building/autonomous fraction for the provision of local accommodation services and that the applicable legal norms and regulations are complied with;

- Copy of the lease agreement or other document legitimizing the exercise of the activity by the holder of the exploitation;

- Copy of the minutes of the condominium assembly authorizing the exploitation, if it is a hostel;

- Copy of the declaration of commencement/change of activity of the holder of the exploitation;

- Name, NIF (Tax Identification Number), and address of the holder of the exploitation or company;

- Authorization or valid title of use of the property issued by the municipal chamber;

- Name and address of the establishment;

- Type of local accommodation;

- Capacity (rooms, beds, number of guests);

- Intended date of opening to the public;

- Name, address, and emergency contact phone number.

Registration

Make a prior communication with a deadline, uploading all these documents and information to the Electronic Single Counter platform, addressed to the mayor of the area where your accommodation is located.

Process

After submitting the communication, you will have to wait ten days (20 if you have a hostel) to receive a response from the municipal chamber. Once this period has elapsed, if there is no opposition, you will receive a registration number, i.e., a valid title that will allow you to open and advertise your accommodation (do not advertise without having the registration, as you will be subject to a fine of between 2500 and 4000 euros for individuals and 25,000 and 40,000 for legal entities). Do not forget to mention it whenever you advertise your accommodation on electronic booking platforms. Thirty days after the prior communication with a deadline, the municipal chamber will carry out an inspection of your accommodation to ensure that it complies with the rules and regulations.

Making the most of an unoccupied property is always a good idea. After all, it means fewer expenses and more income. The problem is how to get there. To turn an unoccupied property into a vacation home, it's not enough to put up an ad, as it used to be done. Now, there are rules. You need to register it and comply with a series of requirements so that the experience is the best possible for everyone. In this case, the process is already quite streamlined, since you can use the Single Digital Counter. We leave you here a brief summary of the process.

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