Step-by-step requirements under Decree 31/2024, plus Málaga's moratorium and Marbella's upcoming ordinance.
In Andalusia, the tourist letting of a home is channelled through the figure of the Tourist-Use Dwelling (VUT), regulated after Decree 31/2024, which updated the earlier Decree 28/2016 and renamed the former VFTs.
Starting point: the property must hold an occupancy licence (or habitability certificate) and meet the technical and habitability conditions of its municipality. Without an occupancy licence it cannot be registered as a VUT.
Typical requirements: cooling and heating depending on the season, ventilation, a first-aid kit, local tourist information, complaint-and-claim forms, cleaning on arrival and departure, and a contact phone line. Registration is done by responsible declaration before the Andalusian Tourism Registry, which assigns a registration code.
Community and municipality: remember the national 3/5 community rule (Organic Law 1/2025) and check the municipal rules. In the city of Málaga a moratorium of up to three years (since August 2025) freezes new licences; Marbella, by contrast, does not cap numbers but is preparing a new municipal ordinance and a Municipal Registry of Tourist Dwellings.
Each Costa del Sol municipality moves at its own pace, so it is wise to confirm the specific situation before investing. At R M Legal Services we handle the full registration and check the community, planning and tax angles.
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