Spain’s Supreme Court has declared the procedure for establishing a unified registry of short-term rentals (tourist or seasonal), as regulated by Royal Decree 1312/2024 of 23 December, invalid. This decree, which was set to take effect on 1 July 2025, aimed to create a national registry consolidating data on short-term rental properties. However, in ruling No. 620/2026, the court ruled that the state lacks the authority to impose a national registry that duplicates existing regional registries governing tourist rentals.
Supreme Court Ruling Details
The appeal was brought forward by the Valencian Community government, challenging the state regulation that established the Unified Rental Registry and the single digital window designed to collect and exchange data on short-term housing rentals. The Supreme Court partially upheld the appeal, annulling only the provisions that created the so-called “unified rental registry.” The ruling left intact the regulations concerning the single digital rental window, the obligations of online platforms to transmit data, and the transmission of data for statistical purposes.
Although the Royal Decree cited compliance with European Regulation 2024/1028, the Supreme Court clarified that this European regulation does not mandate a nationwide registration system nor does it override the internal distribution of powers within EU member states.
Implications for Tourist Property Owners
Experts suggest the annulment was primarily due to the state’s overreach into the powers of autonomous communities, the unnecessary duplication of registries, and concerns over market unity. As a result, tourist-property owners will no longer be required to obtain a unified registration number or submit an annual rental declaration to a national registry.
The unified registration number was intended as an official identification code assigned to each property listed in the Unified Registry of Tourist and Seasonal Rentals. This registry was designed to include properties rented for temporary or seasonal stays. The rule was introduced in Royal Decree 1312/2024 last December, came into force in January, and was scheduled to become mandatory from 1 July 2025.
The European Commission’s Stance
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, the European Commission issued a resolution in February 2026 prohibiting double registration systems for tourist housing and set a deadline of 20 May to eliminate any administrative duplications incompatible with EU law.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s ruling reinforces the constitutional framework governing the distribution of powers in Spain and reduces excessive state control over citizens’ property rights.