{
  "id": 19139306,
  "title": "Empty homes in Spain puzzle: More and more properties vacant as rental listings disappear",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/empty-homes-in-spain-puzzle-more-and-more-properties-vacant-as-rental",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T10:55:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euro Weekly News",
    "slug": "euro-weekly-news",
    "url": "https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/11/09/empty-homes-in-spain-puzzle-more-and-more-properties-vacant-as-rental-listings-disappear/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Spain's rental market is grappling with a puzzling issue: a significant rise in vacant properties while fewer rental options are available. According to property website Idealista, the number of advertised rental properties across Spain dropped by 19% in just one month, with 26,531 listings disappearing between September 25 and October 25, 2026. This decline coincides with growing scrutiny over how property owners use their homes, particularly those opting for temporary or tourist accommodations instead of long-term tenancies.\n\nThe National Statistics Institute's 2021 Population and Housing Census revealed that Spain has 3,837,328 empty homes, accounting for 14.4% of its total housing stock. Andalucia alone holds 641,437 of these properties, including 152,774 in Malaga province. However, these figures require interpretation. The census classifies homes as empty based on electricity consumption, identifying properties with no electricity contract or consumption below a locally calculated threshold. Approximately 2.5 million homes are used occasionally, including second residences and seasonal properties.\n\nThese numbers do not necessarily indicate that millions of fully equipped homes are immediately available for rent. Some may require renovation, face ownership complications, or lack suitability for the rental market. Additionally, many empty properties are in areas with weaker population demand or need renovation.\n\nThe Banco de España's analysis highlights that empty properties are often situated in regions with weaker population demand, while others may require renovation. Despite these challenges, the figures raise an important question about how Spain can increase accommodation availability without relying solely on new property construction.\n\nThe debate is particularly relevant for property owners who have traditionally relied on temporary accommodations to generate income. Foreign homeowners, including British individuals, often rent out their second properties to help cover various expenses. However, recent changes in regulations and criticism of tourist accommodations have created uncertainty for this sector. Juan Cubo, president of the Andalucian Association of Tourist Accommodation, attributes the issue to insufficient housebuilding and poor urban planning, arguing that tourist accommodations represent only 2 to 3% of Malaga's total housing stock.\n\nCubo defends property owners' rights to decide how their homes are used, emphasizing that many choose tourist accommodations for financial returns, security, and flexibility. However, some property owners may withdraw their properties from the market due to financial or administrative risks associated with renting.\n\nThe issue of empty homes in Spain encompasses several challenges, including a shortage of affordable homes, the presence of millions of officially classified empty properties, increasing demand from new residents and tourists, and uncertainty among property owners regarding the best ways to use their investments. One potential solution is the renovation of empty properties, as seen in Denia's scheme. Encouraging new construction and providing clear, predictable rules for property owners might also contribute to addressing this issue. Ultimately, finding ways to bring suitable empty homes into the rental market is crucial for Spain's housing market.",
  "summary": "Spain’s rental market is facing an increasingly difficult question: why are millions of properties classified as empty while people searching […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Spain's rental market sees 19% drop in advertised properties in one month",
    "26,531 rental listings disappear between September and October 2026",
    "Spain has 3.8 million empty homes, 14.4% of total housing stock"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}