Key data
| Regulation | Ruling of June 1, 2026, Third Chamber of the Supreme Court, on RD 1312/2024, of December 23 |
|---|---|
| Publication in BOE | July 18, 2026 |
| Date of ruling | June 1, 2026 |
| Challenged norm | Royal Decree 1312/2024, of December 23 (Unique Rental Registry and Digital Single Window) |
| Annulled articles | Arts. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and additional provision two and final provision one |
| Non-annulled part | Provisions relating to data collection and exchange through the digital window |
| Affected parties | Owners of tourist accommodations, vacation rental platforms and autonomous communities |
| Category | Real estate |
| Year | 2026 |
If you own a tourist apartment or manage a vacation rental platform, the legal framework has just changed significantly. The Third Chamber of the Supreme Court, in a ruling of June 1, 2026, has partially upheld the appeal filed by the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia against the Royal Decree 1312/2024, of December 23, which sought to unify all short-term rental accommodations in a single national registry.
The ruling is clear: the State exceeded its powers in regulating the registry procedure. That part is annulled. What does survive is the technical part of the regulation referring to data collection and exchange through the Digital Single Window for Rentals.
What does this ruling establish?
RD 1312/2024 created two instruments: a Unique National Rental Registry procedure and a Digital Single Window for Rentals for data exchange. The Supreme Court has separated both blocks and ruled differently on each.
| Regulatory block | Affected articles | Result |
|---|---|---|
| National unique registry procedure | Arts. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and additional provision two and final provision one | Declared NULL |
| Data collection and exchange (digital window) | Remaining provisions of RD 1312/2024 | IN FORCE |
The reason for annulment is jurisdictional: the Court considers that regulation of the tourist rental registry procedure corresponds to the autonomous communities, not the State. By creating a national unique registry with its own procedure, the central Government invaded autonomous powers.
As a direct consequence, the autonomous communities strengthen their control over the regulation of short-term tourist rentals. Each region maintains—and in practice consolidates—its own registry system, with its own requirements, deadlines and procedures.
Economic and operational impact
The annulment of the unique registry has immediate practical consequences for those operating in the vacation rental sector:
- Greater operational complexity for platforms with national presence: without a valid unique registry, platforms operating in several autonomous communities must manage as many registry procedures as territories in which they operate, each with its own rules.
- Differentiated adaptation cost by autonomous community: owners with properties in different communities must verify and comply with the registry requirements of each one separately.
- The digital data exchange window remains active: although the unique registry procedure becomes void, the technical infrastructure for information exchange between administrations and platforms remains in force. This implies that data reporting obligations through that window may be maintained.
- Reinforced legal certainty for autonomous communities: communities like Murcia, which challenged the regulation, see their exclusive competence to regulate these registries in their territory recognized.
Who does it affect?
- Owners of short-term tourist accommodations: must register in the autonomous system corresponding to the location of the property, without a valid alternative national procedure.
- Vacation rental platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo and similar): must adapt their registry verification systems to the requirements of each autonomous community, as they cannot rely on a national unique registry.
- Managers and tourist rental agencies operating in multiple territories: need to review regulatory compliance in each autonomous community where they have activity.
- Autonomous communities: recover or consolidate their full competence to regulate the registry procedure in their territory.
- Legal and real estate advisors serving owners or platforms: must update their regulatory compliance protocols.
Practical example
Imagine a tourist apartment management company operating in Madrid, Murcia and the Balearic Islands. Before the ruling, it could aspire to process a single national registry for all its properties under RD 1312/2024. After the annulment of articles 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of said royal decree, that path no longer exists.
The company must now operate with three different registries: that of the Community of Madrid, that of the Region of Murcia—which was precisely the one that appealed and won this legal battle—and that of the Balearic Islands. Each with its own forms, deadlines, autonomous community fees (if any) and documentation requirements. The digital data exchange window continues to function, so data reporting obligations through that technical platform are maintained.
What should companies do now?
- Identify in which autonomous communities they operate and locate the current autonomous registry in each one. The national unique registry of RD 1312/2024 is no longer a valid procedure.
- Verify the status of their current registries: if they processed any registry under the annulled national procedure (arts. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of RD 1312/2024), they must confirm with legal counsel whether that registry is valid or if they must regularize through the autonomous route.
- Review digital window obligations: the part of RD 1312/2024 relating to data collection and exchange has not been annulled. You must check if there are active reporting obligations through that platform.
- Update internal compliance protocols to reflect that the regulatory framework is autonomous, not national, in terms of registry.
- Consult a legal advisor specialized in real estate or tourism law if you have activity in several autonomous communities, especially those that have developed more demanding own regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Which articles of RD 1312/2024 have been annulled exactly?
The Supreme Court has declared null articles 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12, as well as additional provision two and final provision one of Royal Decree 1312/2024, of December 23. These provisions regulated the national unique registry procedure for short-term rentals.
Is the Digital Single Window for Rentals still in force?
Yes. The ruling only annuls the part of RD 1312/2024 relating to the unique registry procedure. The provisions referring to data collection and exchange through the Digital Single Window for Rentals have not been annulled and remain in force.
Where should I register my tourist accommodation now?
You must register in the autonomous registry system corresponding to the autonomous community where the property is located. There is no valid national unique registry procedure after the June 1, 2026 ruling. Each autonomous community maintains its own registry with its own requirements.
What happens if a platform like Airbnb or Booking was already verifying registries under the annulled national system?
Vacation rental platforms must adapt their verification systems to the autonomous registries of each territory. With the annulled national unique registry procedure, they cannot rely on it to demonstrate regulatory compliance of the accommodations they publish.
Which autonomous community filed the appeal that led to this ruling?
It was the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, represented and defended by its legal services counsel, that filed the administrative law appeal against RD 1312/2024. The Supreme Court partially upheld said appeal through a ruling of June 1, 2026.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-15677