Elche joins requests to the Consell to inspect and fine tourist apartments

The province continues to advance in putting a stop to tourist apartments. The territory gathers a large part of the holiday home offer throughout the Community. According to data from the Department of Tourism, of the 105,111 registered properties, about 73,000 are located on the Costa Blanca.

With the rise of this type of accommodation, which has grown by more than 160% in the last decade, the Consell approved a decree law a month ago to regulate and control these types of rentals. The new regulation transfers part of the powers that until now belonged to the department to the City Councils that wish to do so, facilitating the fight against illegal apartments.

Benidorm and Torrevieja were the first two councils to request powers from the Consell to sanction tourist apartments. They were followed by Alicante, which formally submitted the documentation just over a week ago.

The latest local council to join the requests has been Elche, which sent the documentation this week, according to TodoAlicante. The government of Pablo Ruz thus requests from Nuria Montes's area the authority to fine, inspect and resolve sanctioning files.

Thus, Elche City Council has adhered to article 98.2 of Decree Law 9/2024 of August 2nd regulating tourist use housing. Pending resolution of files and verification by Generalitat that general requirements for delegation of these powers are met, Elche will have authority to initiate, process and resolve sanctioning procedures for minor, serious and very serious offenses related to tourist use housing within its territorial scope, as well as their inspection.

According to data from Montes's department, there are 951 registered tourist homes in Elche municipality, totaling 4,716 places. Many are located in beach areas such as Arenales del Sol. With application of regulation, council aims to curb proliferation of illegal tourist apartments.

In addition to formal requests from City Councils, other measures under new regulation will be taken by municipalities in province. This is case with El Campello and Xàbia, which have already restricted issuance of licenses.

The first has done so for next year. Thus no new certificates will be issued for apartment blocks, bungalow developments and commercial premises, while Marina Alta's town council has halted issuance of licenses for six months.

In addition to delegation of powers to City Councils, decree law on tourist homes will bring various updates. Thus owners wishing to apply for license must have community association endorsement explicitly stating no prohibition on using these apartments as holiday accommodations.

Another major update is that it will require identification of persons staying in tourist use housing and prohibit key boxes, requiring owner or employee to meet tourists for key handover; apartment must also have mandatory wifi and emergency phone.

Additionally, owners may draft certain house rules that if breached could lead to eviction without compensation.