Short-term rentals in Spain have been generating a lot of excitement for years. It's no wonder – for many owners, an apartment in Spain is not just a vacation spot, but also a way to keep the property running while they're in Poland.
In 2026, important news emerged: the Spanish Supreme Court annulled the obligation to obtain a national registration number (NRUA), which was required to publish short-term rental offers on online platforms.
Does this mean the market is fully unlocked?
Not quite.
Is this good news for owners?
In many cases, yes, because it eliminates an additional, central obligation that, for some, was another layer of bureaucracy. However, it's also important to remember that tourist rentals on the Costa Blanca must still be managed in accordance with regional and local regulations.
And that's exactly what it's all about: not about scaring you with formalities, but about a wise approach to buying and renting.
What will you find in the article?
What is NRUA?
What did the Supreme Court ruling change?
Is a tourist license still needed on the Costa Blanca?
What are the rules in the Comunidad Valenciana?
What should an apartment owner check?
Why is this important already at the stage of purchasing real estate?
How do Baju Baju Properties and Vamos España view rentals?
FAQ
Summary
What is NRUA?
NRUA, or the National Registration Number for Short-Term Rentals, was intended to be part of a nationwide system for monitoring offers published online.
In practice, owners who wanted to promote their apartments on platforms like Airbnb or Booking were required to obtain an additional number from the central registry. This number would function alongside existing regional regulations.
And this is where the problem arose.
Spain is a decentralized country, and tourism and housing are largely the responsibility of the autonomous communities. Therefore, the Supreme Court found that the state register, in its current form, encroached on the regional competences and duplicated existing local systems. Supreme Court Ruling No. 620/2026 annulled the central register but did not abolish the regional rules governing tourist housing.
What does the repeal of the NRUA change?
Simply put: the owner no longer has to look at the NRUA as an additional, national number needed to publish the offer.
This can make life easier for people who were already operating legally at the regional level but were stuck in additional state procedures.
However, this does not mean that you can rent without any rules.
Following the ruling, the regulations of the autonomous communities, municipal regulations, tourist licensing requirements, and rules of the owners' associations remain in force. Certain obligations related to data exchange and administrative market control have also been maintained.
For an owner on the Costa Blanca, the most important information is:
NRUA is no longer an issue, but regional rental legality still matters.
And what is it like on the Costa Blanca?
Costa Blanca is located in the Comunidad Valenciana, or Valencian Community.
This means that when it comes to tourist rentals, the most important regulations are the regional regulations of the Comunidad Valenciana and the local regulations of the specific municipality.
In practice, the apartment owner should check first of all:
whether the property can be used for tourist rentals,
whether the municipality allows this type of use in a given location,
whether the owners’ association restricts or prohibits short-term rentals,
whether the property meets technical and formal requirements,
is it possible to obtain/maintain an entry in the regional tourist register,
whether the offer can be legally promoted online.
This isn't a reason to abandon your investment. It's simply a list of things to check before you buy, not after.
Is a tourist license still needed on the Costa Blanca?
Yes - if the apartment is to be rented for tourist purposes, you still need to look at the rules in force in the Comunidad Valenciana.
The regional registration/tourism number still matters. The Valencian Generalitat stipulates that advertising for tourist accommodations must include the registration number and the property's location.
In addition, following the changes introduced by Decreto-ley 9/2024, the entry of tourist apartments in the register of the Comunidad Valenciana is valid for 5 years and requires subsequent renewal.
This is important because some customers think about purchasing very simply: "I'll buy an apartment, put it on Booking and it will work.".
And in practice, a good buy-to-let starts earlier.
Already at the stage of choosing a property, you need to know whether this apartment has a realistic path to legal and reasonable rental.
The community of owners also matters
When purchasing an apartment in a building or urbanization, you need to check not only the region and municipality, but also the rules of the owners' association.
In Spain, housing communities can have a real impact on whether a given building is permitted for tourist rentals. Following changes to horizontal property law, the issue of community consent has become even more important for new tourist rentals. The community can also adopt resolutions that limit or condition such use of the property.
Therefore, when buying with the intention of renting out, it is not enough to ask: "Is the apartment nice?".
You have to ask:
Does the community allow short-term rentals?
Are there no restrictions in the statute?
Are there already tourist facilities in the building?
Won't short-term rental be an organizational problem?
Will guests be able to use common areas normally?
These are the things that make a huge difference later.
What does the repeal of the NRUA mean for landlords?
For owners and investors on the Costa Blanca, the Supreme Court decision can be seen as a positive sign: less central bureaucracy, less duplication of procedures and a greater emphasis on regional regulations.
But at the same time the market is moving towards professionalization.
This means that good preparation of the property, compliance with regulations, quality of guest service, transparent offers and knowledge of local regulations will become increasingly important.
And that's good news for owners who want to do things right.
Because an orderly market rewards those who think long-term.
Why is it worth thinking about renting when buying?
Many clients start with a dream:
apartment in Spain,
terrace,
sun,
sea,
several stays a year,
and in the remaining time rent.
This is a very sensible model, but with one condition: the property must be well selected from the outset.
An apartment for rent should be attractive not only for the owner, but also for the future guest.
What counts:
location,
distance from the beach,
parking,
apartment layout,
number of sleeping places,
standard,
access to the swimming pool,
area off-season,
easy key collection,
proximity to restaurants, shops and attractions,
possibility of legal rental.
Sometimes an apartment looks beautiful in the photos, but it won't be the best rental product.
And sometimes a property that seems less impressive at first glance turns out to be much more practical, comfortable and competitive on the market.
That's why at Baju Baju Properties we look at the purchase from a broader perspective than just photos and price.
Baju Baju Properties and Vamos España: A Purchase with a Plan for What's Next
The repeal of the NRUA does not change one thing: the best investment decisions are made when the purchase and subsequent use of the property are considered together.
And that is why the combination of Baju Baju Properties and Vamos España is so important to clients.
Baju Baju Properties helps you choose the right property for your purchase: for yourself, for vacation, for living, for investment or for rent.
Vamos España gives a practical look at what happens next: what the apartment will look like in the offer, whether it will be attractive to guests, how to prepare it, describe it, show it and service it.
This isn't just a real estate sale.
This is a purchase with a plan.
Because if you are buying an apartment with the intention of renting it out, it is worth knowing before purchasing whether this apartment has real potential on the market.
Costa Blanca still has strong rental potential
For years, the Costa Blanca has remained one of the most popular regions for tourists, second-home buyers and investors.
Several things influence this:
good flight connections,
mild climate,
long season,
the popularity of towns such as Alicante, Torrevieja, Guardamar, Orihuela Costa, Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, Jávea and Villajoyosa,
large international community,
extensive infrastructure,
a wide selection of properties for various budgets.
This is a region where a well-chosen apartment can combine the functions of a private vacation spot and a rental property.
But "well-chosen" is the key word.
FAQ: NRUA and renting on the Costa Blanca
Can an apartment be rented without a license after the NRUA has been repealed?
No. The repeal of the NRUA applies to the National Registration Number. It does not remove regional requirements for tourist accommodation. On the Costa Blanca, you still need to check the regulations of the Comunidad Valenciana, the municipality, and the owners' association.
Is the Comunidad Valenciana tourist number still needed?
Yes, the regional registration/tourism number is still important for tourist rentals. Advertisements for tourist apartments in the Valencian Community should include the registration number and the property's exact location.
Can a community restrict short-term rentals?
Yes, that's why it's worth checking the bylaws, resolutions, and practices of a given community before purchasing. For apartments in buildings and urbanizations, this is one of the most important points to verify.
Is Costa Blanca still good for renting?
Yes, but not every property will perform the same. Location, standard, proximity to the beach, seasonality, parking, layout, and legal rental availability all play a role.
Is it worth buying an apartment with the intention of renting it out?
This can be a very good idea if the purchase is well-considered. It's crucial to evaluate the property not only as a place for the owner but also as a product for the future guest.
Summary
The repeal of the NRUA does not mean the end of short-term rental regulation in Spain.
Rather, it means that the additional national obligation disappears and regional and local rules remain paramount.
For owners on the Costa Blanca, this is a good opportunity to look at renting calmly and practically: without panic, but also without making random decisions.
The most important question today is not, “Is the NRUA still in force?”.
The most important question is:
Can my property be legally and sensibly rented in this particular location?
At Baju Baju Properties, we help clients think about this from the purchasing stage. And with Vamos España, we also look at the apartment from the perspective of renting, guests, and the actual operation of the property on the market.
Because a good purchase in Spain is not just about a signed deed.
This is a property that fits your purpose and has a plan for what's next.
