A Coruña Tourist Apartment Owners to Sue City Council Over New Ordinance

A Coruña Tourist Apartment Owners to Sue City Council Over New Ordinance A Coruña, Galicia – Owners of tourist apartments in A Coruña are taking legal action against the city council following the approval of a new ordinance regulating short-term rentals. The ordinance, set to come into effect in early July, introduces several restrictions, including limits on the number of tourist apartments per resident and stipulations regarding their location within buildings. These measures aim to address rising residential rental prices and combat gentrification. However, the retroactive nature of the ordinance has sparked outrage among property owners. Rafael Serrano, vice president of Aviturga, the Galician association of tourist apartment owners, voiced strong concerns. "We believe that the council, until 2024, didn't require any enabling permits, and we consider that an ordinance is not the appropriate method," Serrano stated. "It applies measures and restrictions retroactively when we were doing things as requested. A middle ground would be to respect the rights of operating apartments and establish a phase-out period." Aviturga estimates that up to 80% of existing tourist apartments might be forced to close due to the new regulations. The council's registry lists 1,389 tourist apartments in A Coruña, nearly doubling in a year and a half. The legal challenge promises a significant court battle, with implications for similar regulations in other cities facing similar housing pressures.