Holiday Rental Law Andalucia – LFO Equivalent

According to various lawyers and gestors who have been in contact with the Junta on behalf of their clients with regards to the Licencia de Ocupación that is required to be able to file the ´declaración responsable´ to register their property on the Registro de Turismo de Andalucia, the following documents will be accepted by the Junta (as per 8.5.2016 – as soon as news reaches us about further accepted documents, we will update this topic:

– Licencia de ocupación.
– Licencia de primera ocupación.
– Cédula de habitabilidad.

Several Town Halls have already established procedures to obtain a licence for those properties that do not have one. It appears that the amounts Town Halls charge for this licence vary widely, with Granada charging the most with quite a lot of difference from others, like Málaga or Sevilla for instance.
Apart from the municipal ´tasa´ one would have to pay for the services of an arquitect re the certficate and plans that Town Halls require to issue the licence.

We would like to stress that is absolutely imperative that you actually have this licence BEFORE you submit the ´declaración responsable´. It is expected that inspections will commence really soon and you will be expected to produce the licence then and there. A licence ´in progress´ will not do to avoid fines. The number of beds you offer to tourists, cannot exceed the maximum per bedroom as mentioned in the habitation licence or LFO.

Note for those that have obtained an AFO declaration for their property. An ´Instruction´ published by the Junta de Andalucia to clarify and/or confirm certain aspects of the Holiday Rental Law, mentions specifically that an AFO declaration for regularised properties is NOT an acceptable substitute for the Licencia de Ocupación.

5. REQUISITOS Y SERVICIOS COMUNES (artículo 6).
a) Disponer de licencia de ocupación, debidamente otorgada por el ayuntamiento competente, no
siendo sustituible dicho documento por ningún otro, ya sea expedido por una administración pública como
elaborado por un particular. En este sentido tampoco serán válidos los documentos que acrediten la
condición de asimilado al régimen de fuera de ordenación (AFO). Sí serán admisibles los documentos
municipales cuya finalidad fuera similar a la de las licencias de ocupación otorgados con anterioridad al
momento en que las mismas fuesen exigibles con tal denominación, tales como cédulas de habitabilidad o
licencias de primera ocupación.
En cuanto a las viviendas que se encuentren en la situación legal de fuera de ordenación, y salvo
que el respectivo instrumento de planeamiento disponga otra cosa, se entiende que las mismas cuentan
con licencia de ocupación, pudiendo los interesados exigir al Ayuntamiento competente copia de dicha
licencia, en caso de no disponer de la misma.

Link to the Instruction.

Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.