Unlock Success: 5 Powerful Benefits for Barcelona Real Estate without Tourist Licenses

One would expect investing in a property that already has a tourist license is a no-brainer. However, in many cases, this could actually be more of a disadvantage. First let’s discuss what a tourist license is: A tourist license is a permit that allows landlords to rent out their properties to tourists for short-term stays, any rent under 32 days falls into this category. Without this license rentals must either be temporary stays from 32 days up to 11 months or long-term rentals. 

Purchasing a property with a tourist license can open more possibilities for rental options but it can also open a series of challenges as a landlord. Obtaining this license is a very complicated process which is almost impossible nowadays. Very few tourist licenses are granted each year and new legal impositions have complicated the process even more.

The November 2023 Investment News

The Catalan government passed a new regulation starting from November 2023 where each tourist license will have a validity of only 5 years, different from the previous law where these permits were permanent. The license can be renewed but there is no guarantee that it will be granted again.

The regulation also reduced the amount of permits granted to 10 properties for every 100 inhabitants, a figure that the Catalan real estate market currently exceeds significantly. This will result in the cancellation of various permits and not renewing countless other ones to properties that already have the license.

This in the eyes of an investor changes the panorama completely. Having to re-apply for the permit every 5 years with no guarantee of renewal forces landlords to consider alternatives for the future. The new law aims to combat increasing prices of rent by keeping prices local. It can have a heavy impact on the tourism industry of the city. Having this in mind investing in Barcelona is still a very smart option, when a door closes, a window opens. Purchasing properties without a tourist license can unlock a series of benefits, including these 5 powerful benefits below;

 1. Flexibility and Freedom

Investing in a property without the constraints of a tourist license provides a level of flexibility for many. Without the need to follow the strict tourism regulations and the possible fines that come from breaching them, property owners have the freedom to adapt their investment strategy based on market trends and can play with prices of rent more freely, especially when focusing on the international market.

2. Avoiding Spanish bureaucracy

Spain is known for its sub-par bureaucratic system, with a lack of efficiency and response time. Facing these processes can be very frustrating and time-consuming. Some investors prefer to skip these administrative challenges altogether, choosing properties where they can focus on optimizing their investment as soon as possible and not sit waiting for a response that may never come.

3. Rental Durations and Tenant Diversity

Investing in properties without tourist licenses opens the door to longer rental durations. Traditional rentals can attract a different demographic of tenants, such as expatriates or professionals seeking temporary housing solutions, or our favorite rental target market at the moment: Digital Nomads. This new style of online working and freelancing is a game changer in the real estate market.

A wave of new clients searching for rentals between 3 to 11 months is in constant motion in Barcelona all year long. The trendiness of this city, its fantastic architecture, and its beautiful culture (and food to die for) make it a top destination for this demographic. These types of tenants provide security, stability, and a constant income for a longer period of time, reducing the effort, attention, and instability associated with short-term tourist rentals. 

4. Reduced Costs for Tourists in Barcelona

Acquiring and maintaining a tourist license involves various costs, including application fees, inspections, and compliance measures. Choosing properties without these licenses can lead to lower operational expenses, resulting in a more favorable cost-benefit ratio for investors.

Furthermore, properties with the license automatically bump up their market price. Opting for similar, or better properties without licenses will definitely reflect positively on the price for the investor. Properties with licenses have been seen to have an added value of 30,000-50,000 or more. A value that after the new law does not seem at all worth it. If you want to know more about it, check out this link.

5. Less Dependency on Tourism Trends

Tourist-dependent properties are vulnerable to tourism trends and cycles. Investing in properties without tourist licenses allows investors to avoid these cycles and find a more stable income. Low seasons will still bring Rent money the same as high seasons. Especially after recent years when we went through COVID-19 times and high political instability worldwide, depending on tourism for a steady income is a risky option.

Purchasing a property without a license and focusing on a different set of clients is a safer bet in the long run. The famous phrase “no risk, no reward” can always be considered however, when talking about real-estate investment basing decisions on a declining market after the new law has passed is not a smart choice.

In conclusion, one might think properties with tourist licenses are the better choice. However, considering the costs and challenges that obtaining this license can bring, the lack of permanence, and the unstable market that comes with it; we see in modern-day tourism the license stops having the value it used to.

Finding an adequate property can always be a challenge but opening the doors to properties without this license and welcoming the new trends of tenants in Barcelona can certainly put you on the right path.

Here at Casamona, we specialize in guiding our clients to the right properties for them with expertise in the local market having been present since 2004. Our properties without tourist licenses are great options with a variety of features and prices. Our market analytics and knowledge of the selling process will make buying a property here in Barcelona a great, straight-forward experience! 

Written by Yago Vila

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