With the advent of AirBnB many cities in Spain have experienced a significant surge in short-term tourist rentals, particularly in historic neighbourhoods and city centres. Property owners have taken advantage of often lax regulations to earn additional income. What started as a means to earn a little cash from a spare room has blossomed into a huge business. Whether this has been to the detriment of the traditional hotel industry is debatable. More likely, it has increased the volume of tourists, specifically in urban areas.

This increase has led to concerns about housing availability for residents and the overall character of these areas. In response, in February 2024, the Junta de Andalucía transferred the authority to regulate tourist accommodations to municipal governments.
This move empowered cities like Granada to tailor regulations to their specific needs and challenges. Following this devolution of powers, the Ayuntamiento de Granada undertook studies to assess the impact of tourist rentals on the city's housing market and community dynamics.

Findings on Tourist Rental Saturation

The studies revealed that short term rentals now provide approximately the same number of beds as hotels of all categories, with an alarming concentration of tourist rentals in certain districts of the city:

• Albayzín and Fígares: Approximately 24% of all dwellings are used as tourist accommodations.
• Centro: Tourist rentals constitute about 23% of the housing stock.
• Realejo: Around 13% of homes serve as short-term tourist lodgings.

These figures highlighted a pressing need for intervention to preserve residential housing availability and maintain neighborhood integrity.

Implementation of New Regulations

In response to these findings, the Ayuntamiento de Granada introduced several measures

¡Buen provecho! or ¡Que aproveche!, it is something Spanish people in their mid thirties and up (and almost certainly the more elderly Spaniards) may call out to you if you are ever found humbly sitting alone in an outside space having a bite to eat.

It is one of the things that I adore about living in Andalucia, Spain. I’m not sure that the younger generations would be caught saying this, but it is certainly something I have experienced countless times. It always puts a smile on my face and makes Andalucia feel like home to me. The openness of the people, the willingness to chat and the love for all things related to food…

From the 29th of September to the 23rd of October 2022, Jardín Cervezas Alhambra will be holding a range of cultural events at a unique temporary venue that Cervezas Alhambra, Granada’s local beer company, will be setting up to their taste. Having already visited five other major Spanish cities this year, Jardín Cervezas Alhambra finally arrives in Granada and they have chosen a stunning location to do so: the magical Jardín de Gomérez, a romantic and double-height garden set behind a palatial house built in the 16th century. 

While visiting with friends for an evening spent together in the gardens will be a unique and exciting experience in and of itself, there are also a range of events on during these four weeks: 

4 workshops held my local artists (each Friday at 19:00) - you need to sign up to the lottery system and if you are lucky, you will be chosen.

2 mid-week gastronomic lunch experiences with renowned chefs - information still to be released.

Beer tasting events with Beer sommeliers 5 days each week - 5 euros per person.

5 concerts (2 in the first week and 1 each week thereafter) - 7 euros with a beer included.

Apart from the programmed activities that require prior registration, the space will have free access until full capacity is reached.

No trip to the province of Granada in Spain is complete without visiting the gorgeous mountain villages known collectively as The Alpujarras. In villages like Pampaneira and Capileira, you can buy handmade rugs and all sorts of woven goods, baskets, jewellery and typical food. 

One of my favourite things to do here is just wander around getting lost, trying to spot all of the gorgeous little corners bursting with potted plants and beautiful old wooden doors and imagine all the life, people and stories that these tucked away villages have witnessed over the past centuries. The place truly has an eerie, magical feel to it.

If the Alpujarras steals your heart like it has mine and you'd like to investigate further, we have a load of properties in that area.

Check out our website with just properties from this region: https://www.alpujarrasproperties.com/home/ 
or browse and search all our properties on our general website: https://www.anotherwayoflife.com