Spain’s Prime Minister has gone and presented a new bill that could really shake things up for Brits who own holiday homes in sunny Spain. The proposed bill is talking about some major tax increases that could affect non-residents, including those from the UK. This could mean a whopping 100% sales tax on home purchases by non-residents or non-European Union citizens. Yeah, you heard that right – 100% tax hike!
The idea behind this proposal is to try and cool down Spain’s crazy property market, which has left a bunch of Spaniards struggling to buy a home. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is all about promoting measures that can help folks get access to housing because, let’s face it, it’s a big issue right now. But hold your horses, folks. Real estate agents and experts are casting some serious doubts on whether this tax will actually come into play. Seems like Sánchez might not have the support he needs in parliament, but the threat of this tax alone could scare off potential buyers.
Now, let’s talk about who’s being targeted here. It looks like non-European Union citizens are the ones in the crosshairs. Why? Well, it seems like they’re trying to avoid breaking any European Union laws on freedom of movement. Earlier this month, the Spanish government told Airbnb to shut down over 65,000 holiday listings because they were breaking the rules. People all over Spain have been protesting against the rising costs of housing and rentals, blaming it on holiday rentals like those on Airbnb. And get this – there’s a new rule that says owners of properties in residential complexes have to get approval from their neighbors if they want to rent out their place for short-term holidays. They need a 60% majority vote from the property owners’ community. It’s like a popularity contest for your house!
