All holiday home owners who rent out their properties in the Valencia region of Spain will now need to register them with the tourist authorities, due to new regulations which aim to crack down on tax evaders.

The new rules affect holiday home rentals on the Costa Blanca and Costa del Zahra as well as in the Valencia province.

The Department of Tourism says the move is designed to give it better control over holiday lettings in the region and to improve the quality of service for tourists.

Minister of Tourism Angelina Such explained that all property owners who rent out their holiday home or investment property or advertise it on the Internet will now need to register with the Valencia authorities.

Such said, “It is fundamental to establish strict regulations to provide our tourists with holiday accommodation that is as regulated as possible.

“The draft regulations address the worries and discontent in the tourism business with respect to the illegality of this type of accommodation.”

The new rules will make it easier for local authorities to crack down on tax evasion by owners who do not declare the rental income that they have made from their properties.

The movechannel.com describes The city of Valencia - the third largest in Spain – as an eclectic mix of the old and the new from Gothic buildings to trendy bars and hip restaurants.

The website says Valencia has remained relatively unspoilt and has not suffered the ravages that the Costas have had to endure.

Holiday homes are a popular form of accommodation for tourists and the rental potential is strong, especially in peak season.

• Portugal’s property market has remained fairly robust despite the current property downturn, claims one of the country’s developers.

Miguel Abreu, Managing Director of Quintas de Óbidos, said: “On the whole, prices are holding up in Portugal. We remain bullish and, along with most new developers, will not drop prices.

“In the current economic climate, people are naturally concerned. This is not helped by what is happening in Spain, where not only are prices plummeting, but worse, villas are being bulldozed.

“However, the problems in Spain have largely been because of the lapse planning system, so thousands of unregulated projects were illegally built on vast stretches of coastline which has led to talks of demolition (see following story). That simply wouldn’t happen in Portugal. Planning regulations are extremely strict here; the government encourages low density, sustainable housing, and is keen to preserve the vast open space in Portugal so will not allow over-development.”

The developers are currently promoting villas at Quintas de Óbidos Country Club on Portugal’s Silver Coast to Fly to Let investors.

The entire infrastructure is now in place on the 57 hectare site which incorporates 79 private villas, each in its own private grounds.

The onsite facilities include an Equestrian Centre designed by the world’s number one lady show jumper, Jessica Kürten, plus an exclusive Country Club with a restaurant and spa, swimming pools, tennis courts, a sports pitch and a children’s play area.

Residents will receive special conditions for membership, green fees and buggy rental at the championship golf course.

Prices at Quintas de Óbidos range from €1.5 to €1.9 million, including villa, swimming pool, landscaped gardens and grounds.

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