The Spanish government has launched a crackdown on holiday rentals, meaning Brits could struggle to secure accommodation for a holiday. This month, new legislation came into force allowing residential communities in Spain to bar individual property owners from using their apartments as a holiday let. Holiday rentals could now be banned from a single apartment complex if 60% of property owners ban them over noise concerns.

The Spanish government has also warned that there could be threats against holiday platforms such as Airbnb if properties do not comply with licensing rules, reports The Telegraph. Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, has put pressure on local authorities in busy areas such as Malaga and Barcelona to enforce limits on the number of legitimate tourism rentals in these cities.

In some tourist hotspots in Spain, there has been a surge in house and rent prices which has led to a government response.

Spain has been hit by anti-tourism protests with many locals angry at the impact tourism is having on their homes.

Thousands took to the streets across 40 cities on April 5 to demand lower rents and for tighter restrictions on holiday rentals.

“There are too many Airbnbs and not enough housing,” Mr Sánchez declared earlier this year, blaming foreign buyers for Spain’s housing crisis.

Malaga has become a hotspot for anti-tourism protests, its council announced a three year moratorium on any new licences for tourism rentals beyond the 12,660. 

As for Barcelona, all existing licences for tourism rentals, around 10,000, will expire in 2028.

The changes will be welcomed by residents who have demanded a clampdown on visitor numbers, with some associations even warning tourists to “stay home” through an open letter. 

Protest groups have highlighted a lack of housing for locals, who they said are being driven out to the suburbs as prices rise, removing the sense of community. 

Others complained that infrastructure has been built solely to serve tourists' needs, while some said the influx of tourists damages the environment.