In the center of Madrid, a historic veto by the Supreme Court regarding tourist apartments has taken place, linked to a chalet used for parties that triggered this unprecedented process. The neighbors of the development, involved in the litigation over the past four years, have reported that the activity in question has not ceased.
More than half of the short-term rental accommodations in Madrid are located in 20 neighborhoods outside the Centro district, which represent only 1.2% of the total housing in those areas. In response, the transformation of private use buildings into residential ones will be authorized, provided they are dedicated to affordable housing or 'co-living'.
The new ordinance approved by the Government Board seeks to regulate tourist housing in Madrid through the Reside Madrid Plan to increase the availability of housing in the center and permanently regulate this type of accommodation. It aims to prevent the pressure from shifting to peripheral areas and maintain it in the central area.
On the other hand, the opposition, represented by the spokesperson for Más Madrid in the City Council, Rita Maestre, has demanded the immediate closure of illegal tourist housing to prevent the concentration of these apartments in buildings from benefiting large landlords. The new regulations include the prohibition of dispersed tourist housing in homeowner communities in the historic center.
Additionally, the possibility of transforming residential buildings into tourist apartments in specific situations is being considered, thus promoting the rehabilitation of obsolete structures. Fines for illegal tourist accommodations have been increased to control this type of activity, which represents less than 1% of the total housing in the city of Madrid.
The company Airbnb has criticized the residential protection plan in the Centro district, considering it unjustified and far from European standards. It proposes dispersing tourism outside the urban center to preserve local communities. Fines for non-compliance with the new regulations will progressively increase in case of reoffending.
