Holiday rental fraud in Spain affects hundreds of foreign tourists every summer. This article explains how to spot suspicious listings, protect your booking, and take legal action if you’ve been scammed.
🇬🇧 Summary
Every summer, clients from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland contact me after falling victim to rental fraud in Spain. The holiday property they booked either doesn’t exist, is already rented out, or doesn’t match the promised conditions. Unfortunately, this is a widespread issue—especially when bookings are made through unverified platforms.
Typical fraud scenarios include fake listings with stolen images, double bookings, or properties lacking the required tourist licence. At my firm, we always advise clients to verify the tourist registration number, request an up-to-date nota simple from the Spanish Land Registry, and confirm the landlord’s identity before transferring any money.
If you’ve already been scammed, quick action is essential: preserve all evidence, activate geolocation for photos, report the case to local police, and consult with a lawyer based in Spain. Only with local legal representation can you formally join proceedings and pursue a refund—either through a criminal complaint for fraud (Art. 248 of the Spanish Penal Code) or a civil claim for breach of contract.
At RBS Legal, we regularly represent German-speaking clients who have been defrauded when renting property in Spain. Don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’re here to help you enforce your rights.
🇩🇪 Zusammenfassung
Jeden Sommer kontaktieren mich Mandanten aus Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, weil sie Opfer eines Mietbetrugs in Spanien wurden. Die gebuchte Ferienwohnung existiert nicht, ist bereits vermietet oder entspricht nicht den versprochenen Bedingungen. Leider handelt es sich um ein weitverbreitetes Phänomen – insbesondere bei Buchungen über nicht verifizierte Plattformen.
Typische Betrugsfälle sind gefälschte Inserate mit gestohlenen Fotos, Mehrfachvermietungen derselben Unterkunft oder Ferienwohnungen ohne gesetzlich vorgeschriebene Registrierung. In meiner Kanzlei raten wir immer: Verlangen Sie vor der Buchung die Tourismuslizenznummer, eine aktuelle „nota simple“ aus dem Eigentumsregister sowie die Identifikation des Vermieters.
Falls Sie bereits betroffen sind, handeln Sie rasch: Sichern Sie alle Beweise, aktivieren Sie Geolokalisierung für Fotos, melden Sie den Vorfall bei der Polizei und ziehen Sie einen Anwalt in Spanien hinzu. Nur so können Sie sich dem Verfahren anschließen und eventuell Ihr Geld zurückfordern – sei es über eine Strafanzeige wegen Betrugs (§248 StGB) oder eine zivilrechtliche Klage wegen Vertragsverletzung.
Bei RBS Legal vertreten wir regelmäßig deutschsprachige Mandanten, die in Spanien Opfer von Mietbetrug wurden. Sprechen Sie uns an – wir helfen Ihnen, Ihre Rechte konsequent durchzusetzen.
Holiday Rental Fraud in Spain
Every summer, I receive calls from foreign clients—mostly German, Austrian or Swiss—who arrive in Spain to find that the holiday property they rented either does not exist, is already occupied, or looks nothing like the pictures. It’s an unfortunately common scenario, and one that often ends in frustration, loss of money, and legal uncertainty. In this article, I want to offer some concrete guidance based on real cases we’ve handled at RBS Legal.
🔍 What are the most common scams?
- Fake listings: properties that don’t exist, advertised using stolen photos.
👉 Never transfer money without verifying the identity of the landlord. Use the Spanish Property Registry („nota simple“)—available even in English. - Double bookings: the same flat rented to multiple tourists.
👉 Stick to recognised platforms and demand official confirmation of your booking. - Illegal rentals: homes under legal dispute or lacking tourist licence.
👉 Always check if the property appears in the official tourism registry of the region (e.g. Baleares, Valencia). - Misleading conditions: poor facilities, wrong location, or serious defects.
👉 Request recent photos and check past reviews on secure platforms.
📌 What can you ask for before booking?
As a consumer, you have the right to request:
- The tourist registration number (obligatory in many regions).
- The landlord’s ID (DNI/NIE), or company tax number (CIF).
- Power of attorney if an agency is involved.
- Proof of listing in the official holiday home register.
⚠️ If the owner refuses to provide this information, do not book. It’s often a red flag.
⚖️ What to do if you’ve been scammed?
Unfortunately, litigation in Spain can be slow—both civil and criminal routes require patience and solid evidence. That’s why prevention is your best defence. But if you’re already a victim, here’s what to do:
- Gather evidence: screenshots, emails, payment receipts. Activate geolocation on your phone when taking photos of the scene.
- Report it to the police or Guardia Civil.
- File a formal complaint: ideally via a Spanish lawyer. You have up to one year to report the fraud (five years in serious cases).
- Start legal action:
- Criminal complaint for fraud (Art. 248 Spanish Penal Code) – allows seizure of assets and joining the case as a private party.
- Civil claim for breach of contract – if the home exists but wasn’t delivered or was uninhabitable.
🌍 What if you booked from abroad?
You can file a report in your home country, but Spanish authorities will require someone on the ground. Only a lawyer based in Spain can represent you actively, present evidence and access recovery mechanisms.
At RBS Legal, we support foreign clients affected by real estate fraud across Spain. If this has happened to you, know that you’re not alone—and that there are ways to act.
Holiday rental fraud in Spain is sadly recurrent. But by following a few basic precautions—checking ownership, registration, and avoiding suspicious deals—you place yourself in a much stronger position to defend your rights if something goes wrong.
📩 Need legal support? Contact RBS Legal for a first assessment in English or German.
🛡️ Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalised support, please consult with an attorney.
