Malaga has decided to put the brakes on the expansion of tourist accommodation. Through a change to its General Urban Development Plan, the city is preparing a moratorium that will limit, for at least one year, new tourist-flat blocks and hotels with fewer than four stars. It is a decision with direct consequences for the housing market and for anyone thinking of buying or investing in the city.
What will be limited
- A one-year moratorium on new licences for buildings used entirely as tourist flats.
- A block on new hotels rated below four stars during that period.
- Four-star and higher hotels are exempt, in a bid for higher-quality tourism.
- Ground-floor commercial premises may be converted to residential use, provided they are not used for holiday rentals.
The context explains the move: in 2025, 29 licences were granted for 340 tourist homes, nearly double the figure for 2024 (15 licences and 187 units). This adds to a three-year moratorium already in force on individual holiday-let permits.
Why Málaga is taking this step
The stated goal is to move towards sustainable, quality tourism without worsening pressure on housing. Strong tourist demand has reduced the residential supply in the most central neighbourhoods and fuelled the debate on gentrification. The moratorium is temporary: the city council plans permanent regulation for 2027, which could be applied selectively in the most saturated districts.
What it means if you buy or invest in Málaga
For buyers looking for a home, the measure is good news: less pressure from tourist blocks may gradually translate into more residential supply. For investors, the picture shifts in tone. Homes that already hold a valid tourist licence gain value through scarcity, while investing today with holiday rentals in mind calls for careful checks on planning and licensing status before signing.
In any case, the underlying message is clear: Málaga wants to balance tourism with the right to live in the city, and that reshapes the opportunities. At EVS Property Group we help you understand how it affects your specific case and find the right property, whether to live in or to invest in with confidence.
Source: information published by Idealista, June 2026.
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