Not only in Barcelona: Madrid's move against the tourists

Madrid in Spain prohibits the granting of new licenses to tourist apartments, following its Catalan sister Barcelona, as the entire country fights the negative effects of over-tourism.

Effective immediately until 2025, the Spanish capital will stop issuing new licenses for apartments to rent to tourists, Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida said at a press conference this week. The idea is to gain a foothold in Madrid's accommodation offer, which is flooded with illegal holiday rentals which are influencing the new increase in rental prices in the city centre. Also, a decrease in the supply of apartments offered to locals. 

According to official figures, the number of tourist rentals in Madrid has increased by 41% since 2017.

The city's website states that 13,500 vacation rentals exist in Madrid, and 93% of them are illegal.

As a result, the municipality is recruiting 15% more city planning inspectors and will issue heavy fines to those who do not comply with the regulations regarding vacation accommodation. The plan is that the fine for non-compliance with the conditions will be 1,000 to 30,000 euros. Repeat offenders may be fined up to €60,000. The sanctions, which can be imposed cumulatively, can reach 190 thousand euros.