Spain is taking action amid growing discontent across the country, with its government looking to curb a tourism boom that critics say has fuelled a housing crisis.
The Spanish government announced on Monday it wants to introduce a tax that would be worth up to 100 per cent of the value of properties being bought by non-EU citizens who are not legally Spanish residents.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the proposal was aimed at helping tackle Spain’s housing crisis, which has left local people being priced out of the property market by foreign buyers.
It comes after a year of protests in many Spanish cities against tourists who locals accuse of driving up prices and buying homes that are often left empty.
“There are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes,” Sanchez said.
“It isn’t fair that those who have three, four or five apartments as short-term rentals pay less tax than hotels.
“The West faces a decisive challenge – to not become a society divided into two classes, the rich landlords and poor tenants.”
Similar discontent has emerged in Australia, with areas like Byron Bay moving to counter the rapid surge in short-term rentals.
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