Redaccion
The measures implemented by the municipal government of Madrid since April last year to promote the use of residential housing over the tourist option are yielding positive results.
In 2024, the number of housing units increased by 82% where, irregularly dedicated to tourist use, legality has been restored. These are homes whose owners have voluntarily decided to comply with the orders of the Activities Agency in response to the opening of the procedure. Throughout the past year, legality has been restored in 251 homes, a significant increase compared to 2023 when this number was 138.
This change in trend materialized after the City Council of Madrid activated an action plan against tourist housing last April: the granting of new licenses was suspended, the sanctioning regime was tightened with fines of up to 190,000 euros for owners of VUT without a municipal license, the team of inspectors was reinforced, and the list of legally operating VUT in the city with their location details was published.
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Additionally, the Activities Agency introduced its first Urban Inspection Plan last year, which, among other things, placed tourist housing as one of its priority action lines alongside nightlife.
In November, the Government Board initially approved the RESIDE Plan with the dual objective of protecting the use of primary housing and relocating tourist apartments outside residential buildings. This plan, which has just completed the public information process, will come into effect in 2025.
In the annual report on tourist housing, the Inspection and Discipline Service of the Activities Agency received a total of 2,310 written submissions in 2024, of which 1,299 were complaints. Of the inspections carried out last year, 623 housing units dedicated to tourist use were identified, representing a 30% increase from 2023. The management report also documents the initiation of 490 urban legality restoration proceedings affecting a total of 578 homes.
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This marks a 59% increase from 2023, when 308 urban legality restoration proceedings were initiated. The agency issued 337 resolutions last year, ordering the cessation of 405 VUT and archiving 42 others due to their no longer being used for tourism. Therefore, if we add these 42 VUT to the 251 that restored legality at the start of the procedure, a total of 293 homes have returned to residential use in 2024.
A total of 542 coercive fine procedures were initiated, mostly resulting in voluntary restoration of legality by homeowners. This occurred in 251 homes that ceased tourist use in 2024. 89 coercive fines (ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 euros) were imposed.
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Furthermore, 92 sanctions have been imposed for the establishment and operation of an incompatible use with urban planning, stemming from the operation of tourist housing without the required license. Of these sanctions, 89 were worth 30,001 euros each, and the remaining three were worth 60,001 euros each for repeat offenses.
