Holiday rentals in the Region of Murcia (Costa Calida-Mar Menor) are mainly regulated by:

•          Law 12/2013 on Tourism in the Region of Murcia.

•          Decree 256/2019, which specifically regulates tourist-use properties in the region.

These regulations establish the legal requirements, obligations, and operating conditions for property owners and management companies wishing to offer tourist accommodation legally in Murcia.

What Is Considered a Tourist-Use Property in Murcia?

A tourist-use property is a dwelling that:

•          Is rented on a temporary basis for holiday or tourism purposes.

•          Is fully furnished and ready for immediate use.

•          Is marketed or advertised through tourist accommodation channels.

•          Is offered regularly and in exchange for payment.

Murcia’s regulations allow two types of tourist accommodation activity.

1. Entire Property Rental

The whole property is rented to a single group of guests.

In this case, separate room rentals to different guests under different contracts are not permitted.

2. Room-by-Room Rental

Properties may also be rented by individual rooms, but only when:

•          The activity is carried out by a private individual.

•          The owner or operator is officially registered and permanently resides in the property.

What Is Considered a “Tourist Marketing Channel”?

The authorities consider that a property is operating as tourist accommodation when it is advertised through:

•          Platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.

•          Websites.

•          Travel agencies.

•          Reservation centres.

•          Tourism intermediaries.

•          Any other promotional or marketing channel related to tourism.

In practice, simply advertising the property online may be enough for it to be considered tourist accommodation.

When Is the Activity Considered Habitual?

The regulations presume that tourist activity exists when:

•          The property is publicly advertised through tourist channels.

•          Or when the property is rented two or more times within the same year.

•          Or even when a single annual contract results in repeated or recurring stays.

Approval from the Homeowners’ Community

Following the amendment to the Spanish Horizontal Property Law in 2025, homeowners’ communities may approve, restrict, or prohibit tourist accommodation activity within the building or urbanization.

Any decision to authorise or limit tourist rentals requires approval by:

•          Three-fifths of the property owners.

•          Representing three-fifths of the ownership shares.

For this reason, before starting a holiday rental business, owners should review:

•          The community rules and regulations

•          Any agreements previously adopted by the homeowners’ community.

Management of Tourist Properties

Tourist accommodation may be managed in different ways.

1. Direct Management by the Owner

When the owner manages the property directly, they are fully responsible for complying with tourist accommodation regulations.

2. Management by a Specialist Company

If the property is operated by a management company, that company must have legal authorisation to manage the property.

In this case, administrative responsibility may fall on the management company.

3. Management Through an Agent or Representative

Where an intermediary or representative is involved, liability will be determined according to the Spanish Civil Code and the contractual relationship between the parties.

Mandatory Public Liability Insurance

All tourist-use properties in Murcia must have valid public liability insurance.

The policy must cover:

•          Personal injuries.

•          Property damage.

•          Financial losses caused to guests or third parties.

The minimum required coverage is:

•          €300,000 per claim.

The insurance policy must remain active throughout the entire period of tourist activity.

Requirements for Tourist-Use Properties in Murcia

Tourist properties must meet minimum standards regarding safety, equipment, and habitability.

Basic Mandatory Equipment

The property must be fully equipped for immediate use and include:

•          Suitable furniture.

•          Kitchen utensils and equipment.

•          Bed linen and towels.

•          Drinking water supply.

•          Electricity.

•          Hot water.

•          Wastewater disposal systems.

•          Waste storage and recycling facilities.

Safety Requirements

The property must also have:

•          An accessible fire extinguisher.

•          A basic first-aid kit.

Specific Requirements for Entire Property Rentals

Living-Dining Area

The living room must include at least:

•          A sofa or equivalent seating.

•          Table and chairs according to the property capacity.

•          Direct ventilation to the outside or an uncovered patio.

Permanent beds are not allowed in the living room, except for sofa beds or convertible furniture.

Kitchen

The kitchen must include:

•          Sink.

•          Minimum two-burner cooking area.

•          Extractor fan or hood.

•          Oven and/or microwave.

•          Refrigerator.

•          Washing machine.

•          Sufficient kitchenware.

•          Basic cleaning products.

The kitchen must also have direct ventilation.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms must provide:

•          Properly sized beds.

•          Bedside tables or equivalent furniture.

•          Wardrobe space.

•          Lighting and electrical outlets.

•          Adequate bed linen.

In addition:

•          Windows must have curtains, shutters, blinds, or blackout systems.

•          Bedrooms must have exterior ventilation or ventilation to an uncovered patio.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms must contain at least:

•          Washbasin.

•          Shower or bathtub.

•          Toilet.

•          Mirror.

•          Towel rail.

•          Electrical outlet.

The regulations require:

•          At least one bathroom for every six guest spaces or fraction thereof.

Studio Apartments

Studio-style accommodation is permitted when the bedroom, living area, and kitchen share the same open-plan space.

In these cases:

•          Maximum occupancy is limited to two guests.

Requirements for Room Rentals

When the property is rented by rooms:

•          At least one bedroom must be allocated for tourist use.

•          The owner must permanently reside in the property.

•          Studio layouts are not permitted.

The equipment standards are otherwise similar to those required for full-property rentals.

Maximum Guest Capacity

The maximum permitted capacity for tourist accommodation properties in Murcia is:

•          10 guests.

For room rentals, permanent residents are included within this limit.

Capacity is calculated based on:

•          Beds.

•          Bunk beds.

•          Convertible beds.

Minimum Room Sizes

The regulations establish minimum room dimensions:

•          Single bedroom: minimum 6 m².

•          Double bedroom: minimum 8 m².

•          Bunk bed spaces: minimum 3.5 m² per guest.

Rights of Guests

Tourist guests have the right to:

•          Receive clear and accurate information.

•          Receive the contracted services as agreed.

•          Obtain invoices and contractual documentation.

•          Submit complaints using official complaint forms.

Obligations of Owners and Managers

Owners and operators must:

•          Submit the responsible declaration.

•          Notify changes or termination of activity.

•          Properly display accommodation identification details.

•          Provide accurate information regarding prices and services.

•          Maintain the property in good condition.

•          Make official complaint forms available.

•          Issue proper invoices.

•          Allow tourism inspections.

•          Maintain valid insurance coverage.

Registration and Starting Tourist Activity

Before beginning operations, the owner or operator must submit a responsible declaration to the Tourism Institute of the Region of Murcia.

Information Required in the Responsible Declaration

The declaration must include, among other things:

•          Owner or operator details.

•          Property cadastral reference.

•          Accommodation capacity.

•          Declaration of compliance with legal requirements.

•          Legal availability of the property.

•          Confirmation of valid insurance coverage.

•          Identification of the person responsible for the activity.

For room rentals:

•          The owner must also confirm official registration and permanent residence in the property.

Immediate Start of Activity

Once the responsible declaration has been correctly submitted:

•          The tourist activity may begin immediately.

However, owners must still comply with:

•          Urban planning regulations.

•          Municipal licences.

•          Any additional permits required by other authorities.

Registration in the Tourism Register

Submitting the responsible declaration allows:

•          Registration in the Official Tourism Businesses and Activities Register of the Region of Murcia.

•          Use of the declared tourist classification.

This registration remains subject to possible inspections and verification procedures.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The authorities may order the suspension of activity in cases involving:

•          False information.

•          Significant omissions.

•          Incorrect declarations.

•          Failure to submit the responsible declaration.

Following the relevant administrative procedure, the activity may be prohibited from continuing.

Important Additional Considerations

Reduced Administrative Fees

Owners starting tourist accommodation activity for the first time may benefit from:

•          A 100% reduction in the applicable administrative fee.

Tourism Inspections

The regulations expressly state that:

•          Owners cannot claim residential privacy rights to prevent tourism inspections while tourist activity is taking place.

Removal of Guests

Owners may require guests to leave the property within 24 hours when they:

•          Breach house rules.

•          Fail to comply with coexistence or behavioural standards.

Conclusion

Holiday rental regulations in the Region of Murcia provide a relatively flexible framework compared to some other Spanish regions, although owners must still comply with important administrative, technical, and safety requirements.

Before starting tourist rental activity, it is advisable to review:

•          Regional regulations.

•          Local municipal restrictions.

•          Homeowners’ association rules.

•          Insurance, registration, and habitability requirements.

Ensuring compliance from the outset helps avoid penalties, administrative problems, and future limitations on the tourist use of the property.