The short-term rental market in the Canary Islands is becoming increasingly attractive to investors.
However, it is essential to obtain a Tourist Rental License (Licencia de Viviendas Vacacionales) to operate legally.
It is no longer possible to rent a house to tourists for their vacations without this license.
Spanish authorities have intensified controls using new methods, such as Model 179 and continuous tourist inspections, in order to detect and penalize those who attempt to circumvent the system without the required Tourist Rental License for vacation homes.

Spain has regulations on vacation rentals that can be chaotic and complex for those who are not experts in the field.
This situation can lead to confusion and bewilderment among owners eager to make their vacation homes available.

Under Decree 113 of 2015, which was passed for the regulation of vacation rentals in the Canary Islands, all tourist accommodations must comply with certain requirements.
It is important to keep in mind that some provisions in the 2015 regulation were removed by the Supreme Court and are therefore no longer binding, meaning they can be ignored.
In particular, reference was made to the prohibition of renting rooms and making leases on land classified for tourist or mixed use, however, these restrictions are no longer in effect.

The law allows you to rent your property to tourists.
It is important to be careful before investing in real estate to make sure that the apartment you have chosen is not part of a complex for exclusive tourist use or that there are no restrictions in the Acta de Riunion condominiale (condominium meeting minutes) that prevent your property from being rented out.
Before buying a property to be used for short term rental for tourists, it is advisable to know this information, which is not known by everyone and is often underestimated by inexperienced investors who think they will save money by doing everything themselves and get big returns.

Unfortunately, the reality is different.
In the do-it-yourself context, where you are unfamiliar with the bureaucracy and the more lucrative investment opportunities in Italy or the rest of Europe, it is difficult to get a successful investment.
You may be thinking of relying on online sources to find an answer, but I leave it to you to imagine what my opinion might be on the matter.
However, if you are interested in making investments by informing yourself through the web, there may be better ways to get more reliable and effective results.

“To comply with current legislation, vacation rentals in the Canary Islands must meet several requirements. These requirements are essential to ensure legal compliance and provide a quality experience for visitors to the Canary Islands during their vacation.”

Before purchasing a property, it is essential to apply for a CERTIFICATE OF AGIBILITY OR HABITABILITY (which are equivalent terms).
This document certifies that the house meets the minimum structural integrity requirements and verifies that the required minimum dimensions are met, such as a ceiling height of at least 2.50 meters and a total floor area of at least 25.00 square meters.
Making sure to obtain this certificate is essential to ensure that the property is habitable and meets the legal parameters before proceeding with the purchase.

• (a) Internal security lock on access doors.
• b) First Aid Kit

• Lighting for reading or emergency cases next to each bed
• (b) An effective light dimming system in each bedroom.
• (c) Hangers of non-deformable material in uniform style and in quantities appropriate to the number of guests
• (d) Double or single beds with the following minimum dimensions: single beds 0.90 m x 1.90 m / Double bed 1.35 m x 1.90 m
• (e) Minimum equipment and room linen per guest
• Mattress cover
• Sheets
• Blanket
• Pillow
• Bedspread
• In case the overnight stay is more than 7 days, another set (change) per person will be provided for each week

• (a) Mirror
• (b) Hair dryer
• (c) Toilet paper roll holder
• (d) Shower mat
• (e) Stand with sufficient capacity to place toiletries in case of lack of a top or the like
• (f) Towel rack or coat rack with sufficient capacity.
• (g) System to prevent water from leaking out of the tub or shower tray.
• (h) Large shower towels for each person.
• (i) Small towel for each person.
• (l) When the stay is longer than one week, another set of towels per person will be provided for each week

• (a) Oven or Microwave Oven.
• (b) Coffee maker
• (c) Crockery, cutlery and glasses in adequate numbers for the people
• (d) Kitchen utensils such as cloths and napkins.
• (e) Cleaning tools
• (f) Board and iron

In addition, prices should be displayed in the accommodation along with the date they were displayed and in no case can they be higher than those advertised on other channels where the home is offered such as online travel agencies or tourist rental platforms.

The government of the Canary Islands, obliges for vacation rentals to provide guests with a telephone number to answer questions and incidents, which must be active at least from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and duly marked.
It is also mandatory to provide the phone numbers and addresses of emergency and health services, such as Police, Fire Department, and Hospital First Aid, and they must be clearly displayed in Spanish and English

All vacation homes in the Canary Islands must be identified with a plaque on the outside with the number issued at the time of registration in the General Register of Tourism of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.

Here are some specific reasons:

The distinctive plaque serves to identify that the property is legally registered as a “vivienda vacacional” with the relevant authorities.
This demonstrates that the house complies with current tourist rental regulations, including tax, safety and zoning regulations.

Posting the plaque provides transparency to guests and authorities.
Guests can easily verify that they are renting an authorized accommodation that complies with local laws.
Authorities, on the other hand, can monitor and control the activity more easily.

A vivienda vacacional with a distinctive plaque guarantees that the accommodation meets the safety and quality standards imposed by regulations, such as the presence of fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, emergency exits, etc. This reassures guests that the accommodation is safe and suitable for their stay.

The license plate requirement also serves to combat the phenomenon of illegal tourist rentals.
In many cities and regions, unlicensed vacation rentals are prohibited or heavily regulated.
The license plate helps distinguish legal facilities from illegal ones.

Knowing that a vacation rental is regulated also helps nearby residents feel protected, knowing that the property follows specific rules, including dealing with noise, foot traffic, and other issues related to living with tourist rentals.

All apartments licensed as vivienda vacacional must mandatorily be covered by specificinsurance.
This insurance is essential to protect both the owner and guests from any damages or accidents that may occur during the stay.
The policy must cover a variety of risks, such as property damage, third-party liability, and sometimes theft or damage caused by guests.
The insurance requirement ensures that the tourist rental business is operated in accordance with local regulations, providing security and peace of mind for both owners and tenants.

Remember that once you start your business, you will be required to notify the authorities of every guest staying at the vivienda.
This is done through the guest registration portal (part of the anti-terrorism security regulations) and requires you to keep a record of all people staying in your facility.

Remember to keep all Hoja de Registro for at least three years in sequential number order, you may be subject to inspection

Your home, OBLIGATELY must have the complaint forms (HOJAS DE RECLAMACIONES) available to guests, and you must duly display a special sign indicating that you can fill out the Hojas de Reclamaciones for any complaints.
You will also have to display the QR code that identifies your Vivienda Vacacional where guests can send the complaint digitally

Once the content of the complaint from your guest who is dissatisfied with your accommodation has been analyzed, the tourism inspectorate may notify you through the telematics office with a summons or request for documentation regarding the complaint barring any other investigative action.

Once you have obtained your license, you will need to formally notify local law enforcement agencies of the start of your business.
Depending on the municipality where the property is located, you will need to register with the Police or Guardia Civil.
This step is essential to ensure that your business is monitored and complies with tourist rental laws.

• If your property is located in a municipality under the jurisdiction of the National Police, you will need to submit documentation to the appropriate police office.
• If, on the other hand, your property falls under the jurisdiction of the Guardia Civil, you will have to apply to the Guardia Civil.

Many real estate investors who buy in Spain or the Canary Islands are unaware that they automatically become liable to pay local tax taxes. If you want to be informed about the taxation of apartments in Gran Canaria I suggest you read my dedicated article.
Here is the link https://www.propertyforsalegrancanaria.com/dichiarazione-dei-redditi-ai-non-residenti-alle-canarie/

Penalties for viviendas vacacionales are a crucial issue for owners and managers of tourist accommodation.
With the rise of tourism and the expansion of short rental platforms, many destinations have introduced stringent regulations to regulate tourist rental activity.
This article examines the legal consequences and possible penalties for those who do not comply with the established rules, highlighting the importance of operating in accordance with local laws to avoid steep fines and other penalties.

If you want to know what the penalties and amounts are click on this link. https://www.propertyforsalegrancanaria.com/sanciones-vivienda-vacacional-canarias/

As you might have guessed, running a Vivienda Vacacional is not as simple a task as you might think.
Not all Real Estate Agencies deal with this type of activity, while many people improvise without possessing any specific knowledge.

My advice remains unchanged: choose carefully who is in charge of managing your property, as you may face problems with the relevant authorities.

In the Canary Islands, fines are particularly onerous.
Therefore, it is essential to make a wise choice to avoid unpleasant consequences.

This, however, should not scare you!
It’s good for you as an investor, and I’ll tell you why right now.

I have been operating here in Gran Canaria for many years, specializing in the sale of selected properties for the short-rental sector and the complete management of such properties.
I have carefully observed how the situation has changed over the past few years.
Imagine how many individuals, especially young people, have rushed to the Canary Islands in search of fortune, even without a steady job.
Thanks to the thriving tourist rental market, many people decided to rent multiple properties, even up to 10, entering into regular contracts with landlords.
However, they subsequently subleased the properties without the respective owners’ knowledge (there is a clause in the contracts prohibiting subletting), thus generating considerable profits without paying a single cent in taxes.

At that time, there was no Vivienda Vacacional License, Short Rentals were prohibited, and houses were advertised mainly on booking portals such as Booking and Airbnb.
There was no control over the activities and no requirement to register guests with the relevant authorities.
Also, no taxes of any kind were due, as everything was run informally, without following any specific rules.

I think it is unfair that the last entrant can rent up to 10 apartments and exploit them for tourism purposes, paying only one month’s rent to the landlord.
This generates huge revenues and creates cutthroat competition, even achieving earnings 10 times higher than those who have invested at least 150-170 thousand euros.
Personally, I do not find this practice fair, as it takes away business opportunities and reduces the value of your business.

A recent law was introduced to regulate this situation, and the provisions you have just read are part of it.
Although it was not specifically created for real estate investors, this legislation has effectively eliminated those who were unscrupulously exploiting the system.
Therefore, the main goal is to ensure that you, as an investor operating legally, can get the profits you deserve, instead of favoring irresponsible individuals who practice unauthorized subletting.

We offer a complete management service for your Vivienda Vacacional in Gran Canaria, designed to simplify your vacation rental experience.
We take care of every aspect: from promoting your property on the main booking platforms, to managing reservations, check-ins and check-outs, professional housekeeping, and ongoing guest assistance.
We also make sure your property complies with all local regulations, avoiding penalties and ensuring efficient and worry-free management.
Rely on us to maximize your earnings and provide an unforgettable experience for your guests.

If you are interested in giving us your property under management, this is the link https://www.propertyforsalegrancanaria.com/agenzia-immobiliare-gestione-affitti-gran-canaria/

Want to start earning money with your property in Gran Canaria through the Short Rentals market, but don’t know where to start?
We are here to help you!
Thanks to our “The Real Estate Investors Circle” Method, we will solve all your concerns.

To obtain the LICENSE of VIVIENDA VACACIONAL in less than 48 hours, fill out the form below or or send us the required documentation in the three points below via email to info@propertyforsalegrancanaria.comYou can also contact us directly at +34 635632009 / +39 3518711203.

1. Deed of ownership of the subject property
2. Your ID
3. A telephone number

We’ll take care of the rest, and within 48 hours of the submitted application you will have a license number to post to your home and you can start hosting and generating income from short-term rentals to tourists. Or make an appointment and visit us at Calle Green 1, Complejo “Mangolf Villas” C.P.35106, SALOBRE GOLF, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria