Xàbia extends ban on tourist rentals in apartment blocks for six months
The proposal, based on a University of Alicante study, aims to ease housing pressures and neighbourhood tensions linked to tourist rentals in apartment blocks, while excluding single-family homes where such issues are not observed.
The Urban Planning Information Committee of Xàbia Council has unanimously approved extending for six months the suspension of urban compatibility reports for multi-family tourist housing (VUT). The proposal will now go to the next Council’s Plenary Session for ratification.
The aim is to keep analyzing the impact of tourist apartments on housing access and neighbourhood relations in apartment blocks, where most conflicts arise.
Why the measure targets apartment buildings
A study by the University of Alicante found that problems linked to tourist rentals mainly occur in multi-family housing. These include:
- Rising prices that make it harder for locals to access housing.
- Tensions between residents and tourists over the use of shared spaces.
- Risk of losing permanent residents, especially in areas like the port and old town.
The temporary ban is meant to give the local council more time to develop balanced regulations.
Why single-family homes are excluded
The same study and a sectoral working group concluded that detached houses and townhouses do not cause the same issues. In these properties:
- There are no shared areas, reducing the risk of conflicts.
- Their market is separate from the main housing market, so they don’t directly affect access to primary homes.
- They support year-round tourism and jobs in beach and residential areas such as Cabo de la Nao.
For these reasons, the suspension does not apply to single-family homes.
Towards balanced regulation
The University of Alicante also reported that the number of registered tourist rentals in Xàbia has already fallen from 6,161 in August 2024 to 4,321, a drop of 1,840 homes.
The council’s goal is to strike a balance between tourism, access to housing, and neighbourhood harmony, and to build a sustainable model for the municipality.
If the measure is approved, the study will be available for public review for 30 business days at the Urban Planning Service, and will also be published in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV) and on the town hall website.
