Government regulation cancels HUT registrations after 12 idle months to boost housing availability and

The Andorran government has approved a regulation allowing the automatic cancellation of registrations for tourist-use housing (HUT) inactive for 12 consecutive months, under the framework of the Law for Sustainable Growth and the Right to Housing, known as the Òmnibus law.

Government spokesperson and Minister Guillem Casal revealed the measure at Wednesday's post-Council of Ministers press conference. He estimated that more than 100 such properties currently qualify for deregistration, having failed to record clients in the Tourist Accommodation Occupancy Register (ROAT). "From 17 April onward, there will be constant monitoring, and any property that goes 12 months without registering clients will be removed," Casal said. The rule applies to both the HUT register and the register for tourist housing management companies (EGHUT). Owners can reapply for registration upon resuming activity and meeting requirements, with officials describing it as administrative management rather than a penalty.

The regulation takes effect on 17 April, coinciding with the law's first anniversary. Casal emphasised its role in enhancing register reliability, bolstering tourism oversight, and freeing up housing for residential use. Since the law entered parliamentary process, 363 tourist flats have transitioned to the residential market, either through sales or rentals, often due to owners anticipating new rules or failing to meet standards.

Casal noted that the government expects deregistrations to occur progressively as the 12-month periods complete. Over the past year, the Tourism Ministry has initiated seven cases against accommodations for improper ROAT data submission, with plans to intensify checks for compliance and irregularities. Properties deregistered and later offered residentially could face scrutiny as potentially overpriced vacant flats if they exceed set criteria.