Tourism property
Are you buying a property in the expectation of starting a tourist based business – seek urgent legal advise are there are strict regulations that now appertain to the tourism sector.
There is no one authority that has total control over tourism issues – each autonomous community within Spain has its own tourism department and its own set of regulations - before commiting to any project, before signing any contract to buy a ‘ B & B’ , ‘Casa Rural’ ,’ Self catering holiday business’ or any other entity that describes itself in such a manner that hints at providing tourism activities have all the documentation checked out.
In the majority of cases tourism licences will be required. These are issued by the local authorities who will insist that certain basic criterion be met if you intend to proceed with a business in the tourism sector. Town halls have the power to licence this activity and they decide upon the conditions they impose. In the case where town halls require licences, owners have to request this municipal licence in person, this apparently is an effort to stop the clandestine tourism industry that has sprung up, to ensure that certain basic health and safety regulations and standards are met and of course to ensure that taxes are paid on received tourism income.
In the case of illegal tourism activity complaints are made to the Dirección General de Turismo of the appropriate autonomous community and fines can run into tens of thousands of Euros, especially in the case of illegal tourist rentals.
More and more complaints are being made about clandestine or illegal operations, so it is unwise to believe that, if you are running an illegal tourism business, you do not hold the relevant licence ( where appropriate), you are not paying the relevant taxes to the local authorities, not complying with the pertinent laws relevant to running a business in Spain, not contributing to the Social Security sytem, taxation system, not paying IVA, that you will remain undiscovered for too long!
Spanish Property Check will oversee your commercial tourism venture in Spain. Contact Us at spc@irl353.com