Social services and businesses call on Xàbia to halt tourist apartment licences immediately
However, despite these calls, the PP still refuses to declare a moratorium, despite 20% of the town’s housing stock dedicated to tourism.
Representatives from social services and local businesses have called on the local government body – PP / CPJ / VOX – to suspend the issue of licences for tourism apartments in Xàbia immediately after data showed that 20.3% of housing stock in the town is dedicated to tourism accommodation and that both property and rental prices have gone through the roof as a consequence.
According to a report in La Marina Plaza, the PP continues to reject the declaration of a moratorium on the worrying situation, despite the fact that residents, property management companies and even the real estate and hospitality sectors either support or don’t necessarily reject the proposal of an immediate suspension of licences, a decision which has been taken by other towns in the region, such as Dénia.
A round table on this controversial issue was convened by the councillor responsible for Economic Promotion, Juanlu Cardona (PP) and attended by representatives of all the political parties in the town – PP, CPJ, VOX, PSPV and Compromís – as well as those from social services, tourism and local businesses, the head of the Policía Local and the councillor responsible for Town Planning, Pere Sapena (PP).
They were joined by Armando Ortuño from the University of Alicante, one of the authors of the study which led to the decision to halt the suspension of tourist licences in Dénia, who warned that the situation in Xàbia is even worse with 20.3% of the housing stock dedicated to tourism and the sale prices (3,000 euros per square metre) and rental prices (12 euros per square metre) being driven to astronomical levels, adding that the impact of tourist accommodation on rental prices on a stressed population, which would normally range between 10 and 14%, is 20% in Xàbia.
The price of holiday rentals is pushing up the price of normal long-term rentals so much that families and groups of people often up to 10 in number are currently renting apartments with just three or four bedrooms because of the high prices being asked by property owners. Even essential personnel like health workers who earn a decent salary of 1,500 euros a month cannot afford to live in the town where they work due to these extraordinary rents. Representatives from social services warn that there are no longer affordable homes for the essential professionals whilst the head of the local police added that there is an increased security problem with this type of housing.
All the signs support the need to apply the brakes now, even if a moratorium was applied only to apartments and not villas. Despite this, the PP continues to reject an immediate solution, preferring for the matter to be referred to the Tourism Council (despite it not being a binding body) whilst commissioning a study from the University of Alicante.
However, such as strategy would serve to delay a decision until early 2025 at the earliest because a Town Planning Council would need to be convened and a plenary session would need to approve the proposal for a moratorium. At the rate at which tourist accommodation has been growing in Xàbia, this delay could mean that there could be 200 more properties dedicated to tourism by the time a decision is made, especially as, according to the real estate sector, the end of the summer season often means that property sales and subsequent licence registrations increase substantially.
