Marbella Commissions UMA for Housing Study
The University of Malaga (UMA) has been commissioned by Marbella town to conduct a study on the difficulties faced by residents in securing affordable housing in the popular tourist destination of Costa del Sol. The announcement was made this week by Mayor Ángeles Muñoz, who stated that the findings of the study would serve to update a previous analysis conducted in 2018. The new study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current situation.
Public Outcry Over Housing Crisis
The commissioning of the study follows a massive public demonstration last Saturday in Malaga city, where over 15,000 people protested against the high demand for homes and the scarcity of available properties for purchase or rent.
Marbella’s Tourist Rental Properties
Currently, Marbella boasts 6,994 legal tourist rental properties, which make up 6.9% of the 100,000 existing properties, as per data from Spain’s INE national institute of statistics. This places Marbella fourth nationally in terms of the number of properties for tourist use, trailing behind Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga city.
UMA’s Four-Month Study Period
The study by UMA is expected to span four months, with the results potentially available by year-end. Mayor Muñoz, UMA’s Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Antonio Guevara, and Director of the University Institute for Research on Tourist Intelligence and Innovation Enrique Navarro were present during the announcement.
Marbella’s Housing Market and Tourism
While waiting for the updated data, the councillor stated that Marbella’s housing market is not strained due to tourist flats. She highlighted the economic benefits brought by tourists, which account for 8% of the town’s sector income.
Marbella’s Foreign Population and Housing
Mayor Muñoz noted that Marbella has a significant foreign population, many of whom rent their homes during the high season and return to their home countries during the summer when temperatures are milder.
Findings of the 2018 Study
The 2018 study revealed that half of the owners of properties for tourist use are foreigners, and 50% of holiday homes are rented for periods of one to three months. Less than 6% are rented for more than six months. The highest concentration of tourist homes is in Nueva Andalucía and Puerto Banús, followed by the eastern part of Marbella.
Objective of the New Study
The new study aims to update and analyse all data following the new decree of the Junta, which regulates housing for tourist use. The study will also consider the changes in the sector since the Covid-19 pandemic. Guevara noted that each city has a unique model and therefore requires different rules. He recalled that no conflicts were detected in Marbella in 2018 and stated that the study would provide a roadmap for potential measures to be adopted by the town hall.
