Saturday, August 08, 2009

and it isn’t just TV

Valencian tourism authorities want to crack down on unregistered holiday lets of apartments and villas along the whole region's coastline.

At the moment those owners who have ‘legalised' their properties for letting are finding it impossible to attract takers.

Owners of registered premises face a series of expenses and requisites that mean they cannot compete with prices against ‘illegal' properties, despite now offering discounts of up to 35 per cent.

The scale of the hidden letting is huge - in Castellón Province it is estimated that 75% of all overnight stays are in rented properties but only 25% of visitors use properly registered premises.

Experts in the industry are sceptical, saying any new legislation would have as little effect as that now in force unless the regional government is series in enforcing it with heavy fines.

The letting of apartments and villas this year is also being hit by last-minute special prices being offered by many hotels and only the very cheapest lets are showing any signs of movement.

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