Marbella’s administrative certificate for touristic rentals

Tourist dwellings, known as VFTs, are properties owned by a private individual who decides to rent them out to tourists for short stays in order to earn additional income and where only an accommodation service is provided in exchange for a price. These properties are advertised through tourism platforms, i.e. travel agencies, companies that arrange or organise tourism services and websites where bookings are made.

The requirements for tourist dwellings are set out in Article 6 of Decree 28/2016, of 2 February, on tourist dwellings, one of which is that the dwelling must have a first occupancy licence.

However, in some cases, the dwelling does not have this licence, either because it was not obtained when the construction was completed, or because the dwelling does not have it due to the age of the construction.

 

Since the first occupancy permit must be applied for by the developer of the complex – except in the case of a private development, where the permit is applied for by the owner – the permit is applied for and issued for all the dwellings in the complex. It was therefore not possible for a private owner of a property within a complex to apply for a first occupancy licence only for his own property.

 

However, in view of the massive increase in tourist rentals and the legal vacuum that existed for those properties that did not have a First Occupation Permit due to the age of the residential complex to which they belonged, Marbella, following in the footsteps of other Town Halls such as Malaga, Mijas or Estepona, has recently created a channel to obtain an administrative certificate that equates properties that meet the requirements of the Fifth Transitional Provision of Law 7/2021, of 1 December, to promote the sustainability of the territory of Andalusia, to buildings with planning permission, so that these owners can rent their homes for tourist purposes, even if the complex, due to its age, does not have an occupancy licence.

 

In order to obtain this administrative certificate, it is necessary to submit with the application the certificate of completion of the works or the certificate of the age of the building, a simple note from the Land Registry or a document accrediting the ownership of the property and a copy of the self-assessment of the corresponding tax.

 

Due to the recent introduction of this channel by the Marbella Town Council, we recommend that you contact our office for an analysis of your specific case in other to get further advice.

 

Thank you Gemma Fuentes Romero at Franke de la Fuente, for this great text.

Jingle All the Way: Experiencing the Magic of Christmas in Spain!

Christmas is perhaps the most traditional, family-oriented celebration in the whole world, and in Spain it lasts until 6th January. Visiting the country between the middle of December and the start of the New Year is a time that’s always full of lovely moments for sharing. We are sharing the top five popular Christmas traditions here in Spain:

 

 

1.“El Gordo” Christmas lottery
The Christmas time festivities kick-start in Spain on 22nd December with the National Christmas Lottery. The first prize is popularly known as “El Gordo”. Participation is massive and the draw is closely followed throughout the morning. It has a peculiarity that makes it very special, the winning numbers are sung by children in an unmistakable chant. The prize money is very well spread out and the winners usually celebrate their glory in the street.

 

 

 

2. Meals bursting with Christmas flavours and lots of sweet treats
Christmas is a time to enjoy meals with family and friends. The most special night is 24th December, Christmas Eve, when restaurants and hotels offer extraordinary menus to celebrate it in a big way. The meals normally include several starters, for example, Ibérico ham, seafood and delicious cheeses, followed by dishes such as soups, roast meat, fish or stuffed turkey. And to finish, sweet treats and desserts, the true stars of the Christmas dinner table. Turron, marzipan, Spanish sweets, shortbread and naturally, Epiphany cake are all delicacies not to be missed.

 

 

 

3. Colourful Christmas lights
The festive lights in Spain are a delight for children and adults alike. Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Vigo have perhaps been the most eye-catching in recent years, but from the end of November, it is usual for all towns and cities to light up their streets with colours and Christmas motifs. In fact, a great idea to enjoy Christmas is to take a night-time stroll through the Christmas markets and Nativity scenes, wrapped up warm and with a handful of roast chestnuts from a street vendor.

 

 

 

 

4. The 12 most festive grapes of the year
This tradition promises luck and an original way to see in the New Year. It consists of eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve. The idea is to eat one grape for each chime to welcome in the New Year. You can follow the chimes of the famous Puerta del Sol clock in Madrid on television, live at the Puerta del Sol or in the iconic landmark where this tradition is celebrated in your destination. Any of these options are perfect for ringing in the New Year Spanish style.

 

 

 

5. A magical night full of excitement
On the night of 6th January the Three Wise Men arrive from the East and bring presents to all the children. It is traditional for every child to write a letter to the Wise Men beforehand telling them how they have behaved all year and requesting gifts. Special mailboxes are placed in shopping centres and leisure spaces for posting these letters and the ‘royal pages’ make frequent appearances to collect them by hand. Finally, on the afternoon of 5th January, the Wise Men arrive in all the cities in fun processions and parades through the streets to the delight of all the children. Then, after an early night and waiting excitedly for the morning to arrive, they finally get to open their presents. Their names are Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar and they magically enter all the houses through the windows, balconies and chimneys during the night.

 

The City everyone is talking about – Málaga

Why is the world coming to malaga for technology? Not many people know but Malaga opened its Tech Park in 1992 and over the past couple of years Malaga has pushed a huge amount of investment into creating the ‘Tech Hub’ for Europe. And so far it is succeeding.

 

📲 Firstly, the infrastructure is already there with over 600 technology companies present.

🚍 Transport is great, high speed trains from Malaga to Madrid as well as direct flights all over the world makes travel easy.

👩🏼‍💼 Lifestyle is a massive plus and incentive for foreign employees moving abroad. On top of this, Nomad Visas, Start up and business incentives are taking away barriers to entry for businesses.

🎓 The pool of talent is large as Malaga university has partnered with the initiative to sustain the Tech dream.

 

 

Who is coming?

The Americans are coming …
Since Google announced their relocation of Cyber Security to Malaga there has been a huge increase in similar moves. For Americans the last 10 years have been financially very good if you look at exchange rate against the Euro and historically speaking, it is cheap to buy in Spain. With an increase in foreign investment, large corporations and movement of people comes a need for more supply …So what does this mean for the property market on the Costa del Sol and Malaga?

 

What about Property? Thinkgs are looking up.
Spain and in particular Malaga region has profited from the house price increases over the past 18 months. The key reason house prices have gone up is the high demand and low supply. Despite the interest rate hikes in the EU, UK and US, it is not deferring from certain individuals and corporation from moving to Malaga.

 

The combination of a strong housing market (foreign investment) an increasingly inpressive tech park and influx of large corporations is making Malaga one of the most sought after cities in the world!

 

Source: Blue Dawn Development 👉

 

The Spanish real estate market slowed down in 2022, but what happened on the Costa del Sol? Read our analysis of the current market and predictions for 2024

The housing market in Spain started to cool off during 2022 because the increase in interest rates and inflation effected people’s private economy. However, the slowdown wasn’t as bad as people had anticipated. The experts say it will keep slowing down for a few more months, but it’s unlikely the market will crash as we experienced back in 2008-2013. ( Source )

Let’s shift our focus to the Costa del Sol. How accurate were these predictions for the real estate market and is investing in a property in the south of Spain still a wise choice? Our data reveals a remarkable 27% increase in sales from January to August compared to the same period in 2021. The demand continues to be strong, with prime locations being snapped up very quickly. However, we’ve observed a slight shift in our clientele. In previous years, 80% of our clients were Scandinavian, but this year we have seen a shift, with Scandinavians making up 50% of our client base. 

We have also noticed a change in our clients’ behaviour—they’re more informed and ask us more questions, ranging from power consumption and solar panels to additional costs in Spain. This is a positive trend as it reflects a desire for well-informed decision-making when purchasing a property, discouraging hasty decisions.

 

However, the real estate market on the Costa del Sol is still thriving. While the trend towards more informed decisions may lengthen the process and demand more from us as agents, we’re delighted to witness our clients making purchases they are unquestionably confident about.

 

Predictions for 2024 

Acquiring a property in Southern Spain not only represents a sound long-term investment but also offers the advantage of year-round use and enjoyment. When contrasting this with investments in stock, gold or funds, it may prompt you to reconsider your next investment decision. 

The conflict in Ukraine, the ongoing incidents of violence in Scandinavia and various political development continue to impact the daily lives of many individuals. We’ve observed that those with the means to move on from these challenges are increasingly turning their attention to Southern Spain. Demand for properties in the region has reached record high demand, with expanding clientele that extends beyond residents from the UK, Sweden and Norway. 

We will reach the top of inflation and interest in the next few months and upcoming reports will be extremely important to determine whether we will witness the initial shift in interest during the first half of 2024 or if we will need to wait until the latter part of the year. 

 

We anticipate that this shift will likely occur in the first quarter, prompting more individuals to resume their investments. If you are considering purchasing a property in Spain, you may find that the upcoming months may be an opportunity to secure a good deal, especially when dealing with property owners who have benefited from currency fluctuations over the past year. 

 

If you bought a property in the last 2-10 years and consider selling, is now a good time? 

The demand for properties remains high, particularly in good locations where transactions continue to be swift. We have confidence in the Euro’s enduring strength in the coming months, making this a perfect opportunity for those contemplating selling their property or converting the proceeds to their local currency. It might also be an ideal moment to explore the purchase of a larger or smaller property but it’s also important to remember that there is still the option and wait until you find an even better opportunity. 

Exploring Mijas mountain by bike – a scenic adventure

Meet our colleague Björn who’s developed a passion for mountain biking in Spain and explored various routes over the past five years.

What inspired you to start mountain biking and how long have you biking?

“It started when I had to undergo hip surgery and I wasn’t allowed to run which I couldn’t anyway. However, I found that cycling was a more suitable option for me as it didn’t strain my skeletal structure. I have been cycling for over 10 years and it has really benefitted my hip. When I arrived in Spain, I immediately joined a group of cyclists called the ”Sunday bikers.” I was a bit nervous when I set off for the first time, especially with all the ups and downs of the mountains, but I have stuck with them for five years now.”

 

What’s your favorite trail or route to ride, and why?

“My favorite route is from Fuengirola, where I live, up into the mountains of Mijas. There is a hidden valley with no residential houses and you can ride around the valley and back to Fuengirola. It usually takes around 3.5 hours and covers 40 km. It’s my favorite because you get away from everything and the nature in combination with the view are just stunning.”

 

Do you have any tips for beginners who want to get into mountain biking?

“Start by renting a bike and going out with someone who knows good biking routes and areas. Then try to find a group to ride with as it’s always better going out in a group for safety reasons and to make the experience more social.”

 

What’s your favorite piece of equipment or gear that you use when mountain biking, and why?

“Investing in a good pair of cycling shorts is really important, but my favorite device is the sports watch with the heart rate monitor and GPS. With it you can see your current altitude and speed allowing you to compete against yourself.”

 

   

 

How do you stay safe while mountain biking and what precautions do you take to avoid injuries?

“I always use a helmet and I usually bring spare parts because you can be very far away if something happens. Don’t ride the bike when it’s raining; it gets very slippery – I never go out when it’s raining. Ask yourself how much you can manage, take it easy and your group will wait for you.”

 

Do you prefer riding alone or with a group?

”Always prefer to go with a group and then have a drink together.”

 

What do you love most about mountain biking, and what keeps you coming back to the trails?

”The freedom of being out in nature, far away from everything is amazing and of course, the physical well-being is an added bonus.”

 

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in mountain biking?

”Find a group that you can go out with. First time rent a bike to make sure you really like it.”