Last week, Spain's Ministry of Housing ordered the removal of over 86,000 vacation rental properties from the market. The numbers are significant: Andalusia leads with 21,000 properties removed, followed by Valencia with 14,000 and the Canary Islands with 13,000. In key cities like Madrid and Barcelona, thousands of listings have also disappeared from accommodation platforms.
For many property managers, this news has created some uncertainty. That's understandable. But it's also an opportunity to better understand what's happening in the market and how to adapt intelligently.
What's clear is that this represents a lasting change in how the sector is regulated in Spain. It's not something temporary that will disappear. It's the new context, and property managers who adapt well will be better positioned to grow sustainably in the coming years.
We understand that many Spanish property managers have grown rapidly without necessarily having all their systems in place. That's completely normal. When you start with 3 or 4 properties, a WhatsApp messaging system and scattered notes can work perfectly. But as your operation scales, that same system that worked so well for years starts to show its limits.
What's happening now with regulation shows us an important reality: authorities are looking for property managers who can clearly demonstrate that their operations are solid and controlled. And that's where the majority of the 86,000 who were removed from the market ran into problems. Not necessarily because they were doing something "wrong," but because they couldn't prove they were doing everything right.
They didn't have clear visibility into what was happening at each property in real time. They didn't have centralized documentation showing compliance. And when authorities asked for it, they simply couldn't prove it.
In contrast, property managers who are thriving in this new context have something different: complete visibility over their operations, clear and standardized processes, and documentation that unequivocally demonstrates they're doing things the right way. Not because they're "better" than others, but because they have tools that allow them to operate more clearly.
In this new regulatory context, expectations for property managers are becoming increasingly clear. This isn't a change that's surprised anyone, but it is important to understand it well and prepare for it.
Clear documentation at every step. Every task completed, every inspection performed, every change in a property's status should be recorded in an accessible way. This isn't something to fear—it's something that protects you. When everything is properly documented, you have peace of mind knowing that if someone asks, you have a clear answer. Photos of each ready property are your best ally.
Operations that function predictably and consistently. Ideally, you shouldn't be in a situation where you're waiting until a guest arrives to know if your property will be ready. It's better to know in real time what the status of each property is, who's working on each task, when everything will be completed. If something requires extra attention, seeing it with advance notice is always better than discovering it when it's too late.
The ability to demonstrate compliance clearly. It's important that your operations aren't just good—you can demonstrate them when needed. A system that shows your operations meet expected standards, that your team is well coordinated, that your processes are solid—that's what gives you security in this new regulatory context.
Scalability that grows with you, not against you. Growing from 10 to 50 properties is exciting, but only if your operation can scale intelligently. The best Spanish property managers are growing now because they have systems that scale with them, maintaining quality and control.
Breezeway was born with a very specific purpose: to allow property managers to grow without losing control. Right now, that's exactly what you need.
Workflow automation that starts from the first moment. When a booking is confirmed in your PMS, the entire system automatically goes into motion in Breezeway. Cleaning teams receive specific tasks with clear instructions. Property inspections are automatically scheduled. Personalized messages are sent to guests at the exact moment they need the information. There's no room for something important to get lost in a forgotten WhatsApp message or a note stuck to the fridge. Everything is integrated, centralized, and documented.
Field checklists that generate instant proof. Your team isn't working with paper or memory. They're using a mobile app where every cleaning, every inspection, every task is completed with mandatory photo documentation. That's not just more efficient. It's irrefutable proof that the work was done correctly. When a regulator asks "how can you prove this property was ready?", you have timestamped, geolocated photos. It's practically impossible to dispute.
Real-time visibility that takes the anxiety away. A centralized dashboard where you see exactly what's happening at each of your properties right now. Who's where. What tasks are completed. What's pending. What time. This isn't management by intuition or hope. It's management by real, current data. You sleep peacefully because you know if something goes wrong, you'll see it before it becomes a disaster.
Complete and traceable history for each property. "What happened with property X on date Y?" That's not a difficult question to answer. You have everything documented. Who entered, what was cleaned, what was inspected, when it was completed—with photos. It's a complete record that demonstrates exactly how you operated.
Property managers who have Breezeway implemented are enjoying benefits that make a real difference in their businesses.
They're scaling with greater confidence, because they have clear visibility into what's happening at each property. They don't need to wonder if a property will be ready—they see it in real time.
They sleep more soundly, because they have documentation that demonstrates they're complying with what's required.
They lose less money to operational problems, because their properties are ready on time, consistently.
They're building a better reputation in the market, because their guests have consistent, predictable experiences. Reviews go up. Demand goes up. Everything flows more naturally when the operation is solid.
The result is a business that grows more organically and sustainably.
Spain's vacation rental industry is at an important point of change. Property managers who prepare now and adapt their systems will be in a much stronger position in the coming years. It's a natural transition, but it's also an opportunity.
If your operation is currently growing but you feel you could have more control over what's happening, that feeling is important. It's an opportunity to improve before it becomes critical. It's not something to view with anxiety, but as a natural evolution of your business.
Breezeway is designed specifically to help you transition from an operation that "works" to one that is clear, organized, and scalable. It's a step many Spanish property managers needed to take, and now is the ideal time to do it.
If your team is navigating this new regulatory reality in Spain and feels you need tools to operate more intelligently, safely, and scalably, let's talk. We'll show you exactly how other Spanish property managers are using Breezeway to adapt to regulations, scale without chaos, and thrive in this new market.
This isn't a sales pitch. It's an honest conversation about how to protect your business while you grow.