Essential Guides & Advice Renting Out Property In La Palma

Date Published:

29/05/2009

When buying a property in La Palma that you intend to let out for holiday rentals, it's important that you first check with the island's Council ('Cabildo') that the property is suitable - and that it's in an area that has been selected as suitable for tourism.

Before buying a buy-to-let property in the Canary Islands you'll need to confirm with the agent and the local town hall whether the property already has a tourism license - or if it is possible to get one.

Since May 2007, new planning regulations in La Palma divide areas into tourist, urban and rural categories. So, an area that could in the past have been considered somewhere to be exploited for tourism purposes could now be considered a rural area - meaning that licenses are no longer given. Tourist areas will be allowed a certain number of beds - and once that number is reached, no more licenses will be given. (But so far, La Palma has a long way to go!)

These new regulations are 'works in progress' and it may take months until all the areas are specifically identified. This is why it's so important for the buyer to check with the local Cabildo whether the house being bought can receive a licence - and if the house is even in an acceptable area.

At the moment, licenses are only being given to certain properties in the Rural Tourism category. These include traditional rural houses built before 1950 and with traditional characteristics; and new houses, but built in a traditional way, in keeping with the local character. There are also new rules for property; for example, all properties have to comply with fire regulations, each room has to be a certain size (including beds which have to be 2 x 1 metres, minimum) and the kitchen and bathroom must be fully equipped.

For more information, visit La Palma's official council website: www.cabildodelapalma.es

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