Málaga approves a three-year moratorium on tourist flats amid opposition criticism

The Plenary of the Málaga City Council has greenlit a three-year moratorium to limit new tourist accommodations on residential land. The opposition labels the measure as "insufficient" and "shoddy."

The councillor for Urban Planning, Carmen Casero, defended the moratorium as "the last step" in a package of measures to curb the tourist pressure on housing. However, the opposition believes that the initiative comes too late and does not address the root problem.

Toni Morillas, spokesperson for Con Málaga, described the measure as "shoddy" and a "fake moratorium." "It comes too late and does not tackle the housing issue at its core," he asserted. His group criticized that the moratorium is temporary and that hotels can still use commercial land.

A "leaky" regulation

Con Málaga denounced that the regulation is "a leaky sieve" and that the governing team did not accept any of their amendments to tighten the restrictions. The party voted against it and demanded more ambitious measures.

For his part, the spokesperson for Vox, Antonio Alcázar, rejected linking the housing crisis to tourism. "Málaga is facing a crisis stemming from population growth," he stated, considering that focusing the debate solely on tourist flats is an oversimplification. Vox voted against the moratorium.

PSOE criticizes the delay

The socialist spokesperson, Mariano Ruiz, criticized the delay in implementing the measure. He recalled that between 2019 and 2025, 217 files for tourist apartments were approved. The PSOE questioned when the urban modification would come into effect definitively.

The municipal team responded that the moratorium could have been approved "earlier" if it had received support from the parties on initiatives like the tourist tax. They clarified that the moratorium "will be subject to changes and improvements."

What does it mean for Málaga residents?

The moratorium affects new licenses for tourist accommodations on residential land for three years. Residents may see a slowdown in the proliferation of tourist flats in their neighbourhoods, although hotels will still be able to use commercial land. The measure aims to alleviate the pressure on the residential rental market, which is highly strained in the capital.

From the City Council, they assert that the moratorium is just one part of a comprehensive plan. The opposition insists that more robust tools are needed, such as permanent regulation and a tourist tax. The debate on Málaga's tourism model remains open.