Benidorm tourist clampdown as penalties revealed for anyone breaking strict rule

As fed-up locals continue to berate tourists for fuelling Spain's housing crisis, Benidorm has decided to take powers into its own hands in a huge new clampdown that comes into effect in just two weeks

Brit-riddled Benidorm has warned of a huge crack-down amid escalating anti-tourist sentiment. The party-mad hotspot, located in the Valencia region's iconic Costa Blanca, may seem like the only place in Spain that truly embraces us Brits - but new rules could be about to change that.

The seaside resort has announced it will start sanctioning owners of illegal tourist accommodation lets, as well as bolstering its current inspection teams. Those found renting out their beach-side apartment without the correct paperwork could soon be slapped with hefty fines of up to €600,000 (around £502,527).

According to Olive Press, an English news site based in Spain, locally-originated fines could start within just two weeks, and follow similar rules implemented by Valencia City. However, Benidorm is now taking control of the situation itself, with money collected from illegal landlords reported to stay in the resort - rather than being sent to the regional government.

"Benidorm council spokesperson, Lourdes Caselles, said that regional tourist laws approved in 2018 allowed for individual municipalities to carry out inspections as well as collecting penalties from transgressors," the publication explained. It is also believed that council inspectors and local police officers will be brought in to oversee the new operation - while authorities will have to produce a 'quarterly report' over money raised from inspections to keep track of the initiative's impact.

Last year, the regional government of Valencia introduced the threatening policy in a desperate bid to stamp out black-market rentals. Despite the number of licensed holiday apartments jumping from 40,000 to 106,000 across the Valencia region - politician Nuria Montes predicts there could still be more than 50,000 illegal accommodations being advertised.

Some of these gain business through word-of-mouth, while others are listed on classified sites. Speaking to the Financial Times, Nuria argued the government cannot allow for 'any kind of underground economy' in the tourism sector.

"Obviously they [the landlords] don't pay taxes," she added. "We don't know whether the owners are fulfilling their obligations to their workers."

Aside from the government missing out on a huge tax boost, Nuria argues the main concern with black-market holiday lets is tourists' safety. The tourism official argued that many rentals may not follow mandatory rules when it comes to emergencies like fires and evacuation plans, which could put holidaymakers in grave danger.

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In a further clampdown, 43 areas in Spain have already introduced a three-year ban on new registrations of holiday rentals. This includes hotspots such as the luxury city of Marbella and the insatiably popular resort of Torremolinos.

Illegal holiday lets, which are rife across Spain, may also be undermining the sheer scale of the country's housing crisis. It comes as several Tenants Union will take to the streets this week (Saturday, April 5) to demand rent prices in tourist-saturated areas are cut by 50 per cent.

As previously reported, protestors will demand access to long-term rental contracts so they can 'build a life' without the looming threat of being evicted. It follows one man living in Palma, the capital city of Majorca, who claims he was recently confronted by property poachers who wanted the details of his landlord - so they could purchase the apartment for foreign investors.

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