Agents from the National Police and the Local Police of Benidorm, Alicante, have found at least seven tourist flats that were allegedly operating without a licence inside the Emblematic Intempo building, the tallest skyscraper in the city.
During the operation, carried out on Friday 30th October, nearly 40 uniformed officers from both security forces participated, conducting random inspections in apartments across the two towers of the building, known as Poniente and Levante.
Simultaneously, officers from the Prevention and Reaction Unit of the National Police established a control checkpoint for individuals and vehicles, complementing the inspection efforts and reinforcing security throughout the intervention.
According to a statement from the police force, the operation proceeded normally and received continuous cooperation from residents and guests staying in the property, who facilitated the actions carried out by the officers.
As a result of these inspections, at least seven supposedly illegal tourist accommodations were detected in just a few hours. According to the National Police, this highlights the importance of such joint operations in preventing and detecting irregular activities within the tourism sector.
The actions fall within the inspection and sanction powers assumed by the Town Council of Benidorm under Decree-Law 9/2024, of 2nd August, approved by the Generalitat Valenciana, which modified Law 15/2018, of 7th June, on tourism, leisure, and hospitality of the Valencian Community, as recalled by the police.
The regional regulations establish a series of obligations for those engaging in tourist accommodation activities, notably highlighting the principle of exploitation unity for establishments subject to this regime, whereby management and administration must rest with a single responsible entity. This principle acquires particular relevance when determining administrative responsibilities derived from potential infractions, irregularities, or non-compliance with applicable regulations.
The Trade Department of the Town Council of Benidorm is responsible for investigating and processing the corresponding sanction procedures. Since assuming these municipal powers, various penalty proposals have been issued for infractions related to irregular tourism activities. Among them, at least four fines, initially fixed at 50001€ each, have been paid by those responsible, benefiting from reductions for acknowledging responsibility and prompt payment, which represented a 50 percent decrease from their initial amount.
The police intervention is not solely limited to verifying the administrative legality of tourist accommodations. From the analysis of documentation and information obtained during the inspections, the opening of new files for potential breaches of other legal obligations cannot be ruled out, particularly those related to documentary registration and the communication of data regarding accommodated individuals.
In this regard, Royal Decree 933/2021, of 26 October, regulates the obligations of documentary registration and information for physical or legal entities carrying out lodging and motor vehicle rental activities, in compliance with article 25.1 of Organic Law 4/2015 on the protection of citizen security. According to the police, these obligations constitute a fundamental tool for the prevention and investigation of criminal acts, allowing security forces to access relevant data about individuals using lodging establishments.
The breach of specific registration and data communication obligations can constitute a serious infraction regarding citizen security, punishable with fines ranging between 601€ and €30,000€, without prejudice to other responsibilities that might derive from the detected facts.
The joint action by the National Police and the Local Police of Benidorm responds to the principles of mutual cooperation and coordination established in Organic Law 2/1986 on Security Forces. Both bodies maintain close collaboration between their respective Citizen Security units, favouring the exchange of information and the planning of joint actions to detect and prevent potential irregularities in properties intended for tourist accommodation.
According to the national force, the coordinated deployment of personnel, the simultaneous execution of inspections, and preventive security controls allow for the optimisation of police resources and improved operational effectiveness, contributing to both the compliance with current regulations and the prevention of illicit activities.
Police authorities have reminded owners and managers of properties intended for tourist rentals of the importance of knowing and complying with applicable regulations in the Valencian Community, especially regarding the requirements for exercising the activity and the legally established documentary and communication obligations. Both bodies have thus reaffirmed their commitment to institutional collaboration and coordinated action to guarantee legality, combat irregular tourist activities, and reinforce the safety of residents and visitors.
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