El número de pisos turísticos en Córdoba se reduce en tres meses de moratoria de nuevas licencias

The article “El número de pisos turísticos en Córdoba se reduce en tres meses de moratoria de nuevas licencias” is published by El Salto Diario, a Spanish independent news outlet known for investigative reporting on social issues. It is authored by Deva Mar Escobedo, a journalist who frequently covers housing and urban policy in Andalusia. The piece analyses the impact of a three‑month moratorium on new tourist‑use housing licences (VUT) in Córdoba’s centre and south districts.

Since 2 April 2025, the city council has prohibited the registration of new VUTs in the Centro and Sur districts. The measure is reinforced by additional municipal regulations and a recent amendment to the national horizontal property law, requiring explicit community approval for any tourist‑use activity. The moratorium is limited geographically to the most saturated neighbourhoods.

During the three‑month period the number of VUTs fell from 3 485 (2 April) to 3 466 (2 July), a decrease of 19 units. These remaining VUTs can accommodate up to 17 920 people. In parallel, 67 apartment‑hotel buildings—exempt from the moratorium—provide 1 718 places, bringing total tourist capacity in the city to 19 638 visitors.

Data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística show that 12.6 % of all homes in the city centre and 7.6 % in the southern districts are used for short‑term tourist rentals. Other districts exhibit much lower pressures, ranging from 0.4 % to 3.1 %.

Rafael Blázquez, spokesperson for Stop Desahucios Córdoba, describes the moratorium as a “hemorrhage in the jugular” yet warns it is “absolutely insufficient”. He predicts that the restriction will shift pressure to neighbouring areas such as Valdeolleros or Levante, where new licences may be sought.

The city relies on two main legal tools: the Plan General de Ordenación Urbanística (PGOU), which reclassifies tourist flats as tertiary commercial premises, and decree 31/2024, which tightens requirements for tourist‑use properties. Both effectively force new VUTs to be located on ground floors with separate access, limiting vertical expansion.

Article 7.3 of the amended Law 49/1960 on horizontal property obliges owners to obtain explicit community consent before operating a tourist‑use unit. Communities may also demand immediate cessation of unauthorised activity, adding a further barrier for prospective landlords.

A study by the Gerencia Municipal de Urbanismo indicates that the profitability of a VUT in Córdoba is 450 % higher than that of a long‑term residential let. This disparity fuels higher rental prices, reduced housing availability for residents, and contributes to gentrification pressures.

The moratorium covers numerous neighbourhoods in the centre (e.g., Mezquita‑Catedral, San Basilio, San Francisco‑Ribera) and the south (e.g., Campo de la Verdad‑Miraflores, Fray Albino). These zones correspond to the highest concentrations of tourist housing and the greatest reported strain on local housing markets.

By curbing the rapid growth of short‑term tourist accommodation, the policy aims to preserve residential stock, stabilise rents, and promote a more sustainable urban fabric. The reduction of VUTs, combined with stricter licensing and community oversight, represents a concrete municipal effort to balance tourism revenue with long‑term housing needs across Córdoba.