Costa Blanca clamps down on unregistered flat rentals

THE clampdown on the illegal rental of tourist apartments has begun. The Valencia Tourism Agency has activated a campaign against illegal tourist apartments, on the basis that it poses ‘unfair competition’ in the sector. The move is coordinated between the Tax Agency and the Agency for Safety and Emergency Response.
In the Alicante Province an estimated 20,107 apartments are unregulated. Francesc Colomer from the Tourism Agency said the campaign would run until September 15 to “verify that the holiday apartments rented seasonally comply with regulations, guaranteeing the quality of our facilities and professional services and defending the rights of tourists.”
Checks will focus on Torrevieja, Benidorm, El Campello, Calpe and Denia. Tourism inspectors and police will visit website listed locations to check that properties comply with regulations.
The Euro Weekly News reported on the new regulations in February this year. APTUR, the regional association of tourist apartments of the Costa Blanca, said a rental licence number is now compulsory. The number is freely obtained and required by anyone renting out their property either privately or through an accredited agent.
Forms may be downloaded via http://www.gva.es/downloads/publicados/IN/25082_BI.pdf and taken to the correos or visit one of the government’s tourist offices in Alicante or Valencia. This is a regional decree: all rental properties must have this registration number.