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Date Published: 13/08/2024

New weapon in fight against tourist lets in Spain: Seville cuts water supply to unregistered flats

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Seville City Council will cut the water to illegal tourist rental apartments and villas to stop them operating

New weapon in fight against tourist lets in Spain: Seville cuts water supply to unregistered flats

In a bold move to combat the growing problem of illegal tourist rentals, Seville is set to introduce a new measure: cutting off the water supply to properties operating without proper registration.

The initiative, announced by Seville’s Mayor José Luis Sanz, is part of a broader strategy developed in collaboration with the Junta de Andalucía to tackle the proliferation of unregulated tourist accommodations in the city of Seville and in Andalucía as a whole.

The plan involves the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sanitation Company of Seville (Emasesa), which will be responsible for enforcing this new measure. According to Mayor Sanz, properties identified as operating illegally will face a swift response.

“In cases where illegal dwellings continue to operate after being removed from the Junta de Andalucía’s register, Emasesa will cut off their water supply to prevent them from continuing their activities,” he said.

This initiative is part of a larger effort to ensure compliance with local regulations, particularly those introduced in March 2022 under modification 44 of the General Urban Plan (PGOU). The Town Council has requested the revocation of authorisation for 715 tourist-use dwellings registered after this date, as they fail to meet the new urban planning requirements.

The crackdown will not stop there; authorities plan to review all similar declarations of responsibility received since March 2022, as well as to conduct thorough inspections of all registered tourist properties that do not have proper occupancy permits.

In Spain, any property that is rented out for the purposes of short-term stays must be registered as a Vivienda de Uso Turístico, or Tourist Use Property.

In addition to cutting off water supplies, the Department for Town Planning in Seville will also be stepping up efforts to cancel authorisations for properties that have improperly changed their use to tourist accommodations. This will involve streamlining processes and enhancing coordination between various government bodies, with a particular focus on properties that have generated complaints from neighbours.

Tourism in Seville, as in many parts of Spain, has long been a double-edged sword. While it provides a significant boost to the local economy, it has also led to overcrowding, increased rents and a loss of local culture in heavily touristed areas.

The rapid rise of tourist rentals, particularly through platforms like Airbnb, has exacerbated these issues, with many properties operating outside the bounds of local regulations.

The decision to cut off water supplies to illegal tourist flats represents a significant escalation in the city’s efforts to regain control over its housing market and protect the interests of local residents. It sends a clear message that the authorities are serious about enforcing the rules and that there will be consequences for those who choose to ignore them.

Mayor Sanz emphasized the importance of acting “firmly and with zero tolerance” against those who flout the regulations. By introducing stringent measures, Seville hopes to curb the spread of illegal tourist rentals and, ultimately, to foster a more sustainable and balanced approach to tourism that benefits both visitors and residents alike.

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