Tourism license - Page 7

Our keyholders are Torrecleanandvan.com  Speak to Julie, she is very helpful.

I recently came across an article about guest bookkeeping https://chekin.io/en/blog/how-to-legally-complete-guest-registration-and-manage-your-book-keeping-for-your-tourist-accommodation/ and wondering whether it's still a legal requirement for holiday lets? Does anyone keep any guest forms and store them for 3 years?

Registering the guests age 16 years and over with the Guardia Civil within 24 hours of their arrival is a legal requirement.  Once the form on-line has been completed it can be printed off for the guest to sign.  It is the signed version of that form that need to be stored for 3 years, but must be stored compliant with data protection rules as the forms contain passport details.  You cannot get login details from the Guardia Civil until you have your license, but it is a legal requirement to do the forms.  You will need to make an appointment at the Guardia Civil station to obtain login details as soon as you have your license and take your passport, NIE and license with you.

There are 5 steps to becoming a legal rental property:

Step 1 - Town Hall for Compliance Certificate.  

Step 2 - apply for/obtain your Tourist License  

Step 3 - register with the Guardia Civil  

Step 4 - Buy official plaque with your license number on it, buy your official complaints forms and display the plaque and official notice re having complaints forms in a prominent location just inside your property's main entrance.

Step 5 - complete your tax return every quarter if non-resident or annually if a Spanish resident.

Hi,

I understand the process but my issue is that we have been trying for a year now to get past step 1 the Town Hall is not allowing applications.  Does anyone know if they are going to have areas in Spain which will not allow renting as if this is correct people need to know when buying a property.  I purchased my property and made it clear that some of the time (peak season) we wanted to rent it out and I was not aware that we may not be able to do this as we cannot get a licence.

It’s impossible to get any answers. Your best bet is to try get long winter let’s where you don’t need a license . Prob not ideal but at least you will get some return. It’s total madness . 

It is down to individual town halls as to if or when they decide to issue certificates of compatibility.  So a town hall may take a certain number of applications and then suspend taking any more, may decide to issue for some roads/communities but no for others, or may simply not have any staff trained to do the job!  No one can guarantee any one property will definitely be able to obtain a license even if it meets all the criteria at the moment.  The only way to guarantee having a Tourist License is to buy a property that already has one.

The Town Halls only became involved in July 2018, with virtually no notice that this was going to happen.  If you purchased a property prior to July 2018 then as long as the property met the criteria you could get a license without any problem, taking about 12 months from application to issue.  Once the town halls got involved it became a complete nightmare as they just were not ready, in fact totally unprepared, to deal with the new stage of the process.  In all fairness to estate agents, they had no way of knowing in advance that the process was about to change before July 2018.  If you have purchased since July 2018 then they definitely should have been aware and given you a warning about the extra stage/complication, and that there is no way of knowing if or when you would be able to get the first certificate.

You may find you can do two or three 1 month plus high season lets, there is a demand for that.  Also the 2-3 month lets in the winter to snow birds.  

There is no hotels where we are located. The madness is telling people they can apply for licenses then take so long processing. Been waiting 15 months so far . Some people want to book into hotels and others want self contained. 

Ray D, There is room for both, and a need for both.  

Due to my daughters special needs we were never able to stay in hotels when she was a child - we tried a couple of times with disastrous results.  So we rented to be able to cater for her needs and all have a holiday.  We eventually purchased our own second home but to do so we had to take out a new mortgage and so we looked into the rental option before buying.  I now prefer self-catering and quiet surroundings due to my medical situation, I can't risk being in a crowded environment with lots of strangers in close quarters as I have low immunity.  I need my own space but don't want to be confined to a single room, so self-catering gives me the flexibility and options that a hotel cannot, (unless I booked a very expensive large suite of rooms!)  Hotels just do not suit everyone and for many families are too expensive.  Licensing properties is a good idea, it sets minimum standards and the numbers can be controlled, but having a system of licensing that actually works is desperately needed and currently the system in Alicante is not working!

As for 'income for non-residents' - I pay Spanish tax on that income and have done for 13 years, (and will pay a lot more after brexit!).  So not only do I contribute to the Spanish tax coffers (not complaining about that, I agree with it), but my renters are also spending their cash in the local economy - supermarkets, bars, shops, restaurants, taxis, hire cars, etc.  With few hotel rooms available in the area there would not be sufficient visitors to support the local businesses if the renters don't come.  

There are a good number of Spanish residents that also own a holiday let, are you suggesting that they should not either?  Or is a Spanish resident owning a holiday let, (and paying LESS tax on that rental income that a UK resident will after brexit) OK?

I don't 'expect' Spain 'to provide' me with an income - I work damn hard for it!  

Yes have had that since June 

Agree with all you have said davebev. The license is a fair idea it’s the way it’s being dealt with is unfair