Rental bookings in Spain down as fines are introduced for the non-registered

Property owners in Spain who rent accommodation to holidaymakers and visitors are struggling to find bookings this year and the clampdown on non-registered rentals is spreading.

Those on the Costa del Sol are suffering the most according to holiday rental agencies in popular destinations like Benalmadena, Rincon de la Victoria, and even Malaga. They report that bookings for the high season have yet to materialise, when this time last year many rental properties were already booked up, with deposits paid.

What enquiries there have been suggest that holiday makers are economising and looking for smaller apartments with more beds for less money. Many appear to be delaying booking until the last minute, in the hope of finding bargains.

The one exception is Marbella, where bookings, though down on previous years, are already being taken. But unfortunately for owners of rental properties in Marbella, the competition is also stronger this year, as a fall in property sales means more owners turning to rentals until the housing market picks up.

Golf is suffering too. The cost of golf on the Costa Blanca has risen in recent months and course owners have reported a reduction in the number of members turning up. According to Noel Eastwell there is an increase in the number of golf societies being formed to negotiate deals for members. 'In the current economic climate many see the discounts secured by societies as the only way they can afford to play golf,' he said.

Meanwhile the Costa Blanca holiday rentals association, and Angelica Such Ronda, the minister of tourism in Valencia's regional government, have agreed a structure of fines to control the business of renting holiday apartment to tourists on the Costa Blanca.

Sergio Gambi, president of the Costa Blanca tourist apartments association (Aptur), said all adverts for holiday rental properties, including any internet publicity, must state a registration number provided by the ministry of tourism.

Gambi confirmed that the Costa Blanca tourist apartments association will monitor adverts and report owners or rental agencies that fail to comply with the new regulations.

Research by the association in 2006 found that 80% of all holiday rental apartments in Benidorm, for example, were unregistered.