Some buyers at Residencial Montesol plan to live in their home full-time; others see it partly as an investment, and want to rent it out — whether short-term to holidaymakers or long-term to tenants — when they’re not using it themselves. Both are realistic options here, but each comes with its own rules. This guide covers what’s actually involved.
Short-term (holiday) rentals: the ETV licence
If you plan to rent your property short-term — to holidaymakers, on platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com — properties in the Valencian Community (which includes Ciudad Quesada and Rojales) generally need to be registered as a Vivienda de Uso Turístico through the region’s ETV system (Empresa de Turismo Valenciana). This is submitted as a declaración responsable — a formal declaration that the property meets the applicable requirements — via the regional government’s portal, and typically needs supporting documents such as proof of ownership, the property’s occupancy licence, and confirmation the property meets basic habitability and safety standards.
Recent changes to this system have added an extra step in some cases: a municipal Compatibilidad Urbanística certificate, confirming the local town hall doesn’t object to the property being used for tourist rental, before the regional ETV registration can be completed. Rules and local practice around this have been tightening in parts of Spain, including some areas where new tourist-rental registrations have been paused entirely in designated “stressed” zones. Whether any such restriction applies specifically to a property in Ciudad Quesada or Rojales is something to check directly with the relevant town hall or a local lawyer at the time you’re planning to rent — this is a genuinely local, and currently evolving, question rather than one with a fixed national answer.
Once registered, your property receives an ETV number, which must be displayed on any listing advertising the property for short-term rental — renting out an unregistered property is a real compliance risk, not just a formality to skip.
Long-term rentals: a simpler path
Renting out a property long-term — to a tenant on an ordinary residential lease rather than to holidaymakers — doesn’t require the ETV tourist licence described above; it falls under Spain’s standard residential tenancy law (Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos) instead. This is generally the more straightforward option administratively, though it comes with its own considerations: standard leases in Spain give tenants meaningful protections, and ending a lease or recovering the property (for example, if you want to move back in yourself) works to a defined legal process rather than being at the landlord’s discretion.
Tax on rental income
Non-resident owners renting out a Spanish property are taxed on the rental income, and the rate depends on your tax residency:
- Residents of the EU/EEA are generally taxed at 19% on rental income, and can deduct allowable expenses (maintenance, community fees, mortgage interest, and similar costs) before calculating the tax due.
- Residents outside the EU/EEA (including UK residents, post-Brexit) are generally taxed at a flat 24% on gross rental income, without the same right to deduct expenses.
This is a meaningful difference depending on your own residency, and worth factoring into any rental income projection rather than assuming the same net return regardless of where you live. Rules and rates can change, so confirm the current position with a Spanish tax adviser before relying on a specific figure.
What rental income is realistic to expect?
Rental yields depend heavily on the specific property, how actively it’s managed, and whether it’s let short-term (generally higher gross income, but with more admin, void periods, and cleaning/management costs) or long-term (lower gross income, but simpler and steadier). Golf-focused areas like Ciudad Quesada tend to see good demand from golfing visitors and returning international residents, particularly outside the height of summer when golfers specifically prefer to travel — but any specific yield figure should come from a local letting agent who knows current demand, not a generic estimate.
Practical considerations if you plan to let your property
- Decide early whether you’re targeting short-term or long-term tenants — it affects the licensing route, the furnishing standard expected, and how much active management the property will need.
- Factor property management costs into your return if you won’t be locally based to handle bookings, cleaning, and maintenance yourself.
- Confirm the current ETV and municipal position for the specific property before advertising it for short-term rental — this is genuinely worth a direct conversation with a local lawyer, given how much this area of regulation has been shifting.
- Keep community fees, insurance, and any mortgage in mind as fixed costs against rental income, not just the income itself.
Renting out a home at Residencial Montesol
Residencial Montesol’s location in Ciudad Quesada — within easy reach of five golf courses (see our golf courses guide) and the beaches of the Costa Blanca South — gives it a genuine draw for both holiday tenants and long-term residents, if letting the property is part of your plan. For guidance on local letting agents and current rental demand, get in touch via our Contact page.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rental licensing rules, tax rates and municipal policy can change and vary by area — always confirm your specific situation with a qualified Spanish lawyer or tax adviser before letting a property.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent my Spanish property out on Airbnb without a licence?
No — short-term tourist rental in the Valencian Community generally requires ETV registration, and advertising an unregistered property carries real compliance risk.
Is it easier to rent long-term than short-term?
Administratively, yes — long-term letting falls under standard residential tenancy law rather than the tourist rental licensing system, though it comes with its own tenant protections to understand before signing a lease.
Do I pay the same tax on rental income as a Spanish resident?
No — non-resident owners are taxed differently depending on whether they’re resident in the EU/EEA (19%, with allowable deductions) or outside it (24% flat, on gross income).
Can I use a management company if I don’t live locally?
Yes — this is common practice for non-resident owners letting their property, covering bookings, cleaning, and maintenance, generally in exchange for a percentage of rental income.
Does Residencial Montesol have any restrictions on renting?
Get in touch via our Contact page for the specific position on this development, since community rules can vary between developments even within the same area.
See the full listing for Residencial Montesol, our new build development in Ciudad Quesada, if you’re considering buying to let.