The VUT licence (Andalusia)
Introduced under Decree 28/2016 and updated by Decree 31/2024, the VUT licence is what lets you legally rent your property to tourists in Andalusia. Every short-term rental listed on Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO or any online platform needs one. In Alhaurín de la Torre it is the registration that counts.
Who grants it, and how quickly
The Junta de Andalucía's regional tourism office. Application is via their online portal. For straightforward cases we've seen licences issued in as little as one working day, though 2 to 5 days is more typical. Speed depends largely on how complete the supporting documents are, which is where a manager familiar with the process makes a real difference.
The 2025 community-vote rule
This rule only applies to new VUT applications. If your property already holds a valid VUT licence issued before 3 April 2025, it continues to operate under the previous rules; you do not need a community vote to keep running.
For new applications in community buildings (apartment block, townhouse development, urbanisation), the April 2025 amendment to the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal, Ley Orgánica 1/2025 in force from 3 April 2025, sets a three-fifths majority vote as the approval requirement. In practice: you call a community meeting (ordinary or extraordinary), formally propose your VUT application, and get it on the minutes with enough votes in favour.
Some communities have blanket short-term rental bans written into their statutes. Check before buying if this matters to you. Some newer developments prohibit holiday rentals entirely, regardless of when a licence was issued.
What you need before applying
- Property ownership documentation (escritura)
- Community vote in favour (where applicable)
- Proof of insurance for short-term rental use
- Minimum quality standards (beds, bathrooms, kitchen; VUT has a specifications table)
- Occupancy licence from the property (licencia de primera ocupación)
- Cedula de habitabilidad or equivalent
The NRUA has been annulled
What the Spanish Supreme Court ruled
The NRUA (Número de Registro Único de Alquiler), introduced by Royal Decree 1312/2024 and briefly in force from 1 July 2025, was annulled by the Spanish Supreme Court in May 2026. It is no longer a requirement.
The regional VUT licence from the Junta de Andalucía is the registration that counts, and it always was in Andalusia. Booking platforms verify a valid short-term-rental number; in Alhaurín de la Torre and across the region, that number is your VUT.
For owners with valid VUT licences: nothing changes. For owners onboarding now, we handle the VUT registration as part of the management package. Guest registration through SES.HOSPEDAJES continues as before.