France and Portugal are joining the fray as countries clamp down on British holiday homes.
The move follows a bombshell from Spain’s Prime Minister, who announced that non-resident citizens from non-EU countries, including Brits, will be hit with hefty taxes if they want to purchase property in Spain. This has caused widespread concern among UK citizens dreaming of retiring to Spanish coastal retreats.
But it’s not just Spain, those looking to bask in the sun of Portugal, France, or even Greece could face additional obstacles, according to reports. In Portugal, there’s been an outcry over the lack of affordable housing, with protestors across various cities holding up banners with stark messages such as: “I have to choose between paying for a house or eating.”
Last year, France responded to the growing discontent over housing availability by passing a crucial law aimed at reining in the short-term tourist rental market, which saw explosive growth from 300,000 to 1.2 million listings between 2016 and 2024.
Greece also felt compelled to take action, with the government announcing a comprehensive ban on new short-term rental licences in three key districts of Athens last year, citing “a lot of pressure on society”, reports the Mirror.
Spain is taking a firm stance on second home ownership, attributing the move to the pressing need for affordable housing. The country has unveiled an extensive array of policy initiatives aimed at overhauling the construction sector, securing affordable rental options, and rewarding adherence to rental regulations.
Pedro Sánchez has announced a crackdown on second home ownership in Spain
(Image: Getty Images)
This includes imposing a tax of up to 100 per cent on properties purchased by non-European Union residents, which would affect British buyers, as reported by Mail Online.
However, British property hunters have historically been drawn to Spain’s enticing offer of opulent villas under the sun at prices significantly lower than those in the UK. These properties are not the “affordable” homes that average working Spaniards are calling for, and the influx of foreign investors speculating in the Spanish property market has fueled a perception that local needs are being overlooked in favour of accommodating international capital.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez highlighted that in 2023 alone, non-EU residents, who are not intending to reside there but rather to speculate, snapped up 27,000 houses and flats in Spain.
The Algarve in Portugal boasts glorious beaches, loved by Brits
(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, despite Greece’s popularity among British vacationers, last summer saw Athens locals expressing their frustration with the tourism industry through graffiti. One stark message declared: “Tourists Go Home! Greek State Kills.”
Another featured a depiction of two buildings marked “Airbnb” engulfed in flames, with the slogan: “Tourists Enjoy Your Stay In The Cemetery Of Europe” emblazoned below.
Outraged residents of Athens have spilled onto the streets in protest against the overwhelming influx of tourists to their city, chanting pointedly: “They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives” – slamming affluent homeowners who rent out their properties on Airbnb.
Speaking with France24, Anna Theodorakis, who was ousted from her dwelling in Metaxourgio, described the escalating tension in Athens as “very depressing”.
She expressed a sense of urgency and resistance saying, “I think the answer is to go in the streets and block everything and just not do something because people are losing their homes,” highlighting the plight of locals amidst a tourist boom that saw Greece attract 32 million visitors in 2023, though authorities were hesitant to discourage foreign visitors.