# How much does it cost to start renting a flat to tourists? A realistic start-up budget

> The licence is free. What costs money is getting the flat ready: bed linen, equipment, safety, photos and, sometimes, air conditioning. Between €800 and €4,000 depending on where you start from.
>
> Topic: Before you start · Reviewed: 2026-09-22 · URL: https://mipisoturistico.app/en/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-renting-a-flat-to-tourists-a-realistic-start-up-budget
> Published by Mi Piso Turístico (Torremolinos Gestión Vacacional), a holiday-rental management company on the Costa del Sol.

**Short answer:** the Junta de Andalucía's tourist licence **costs nothing**. The real expense is preparing the flat: if it is already furnished and has air conditioning, you can start with **€800-1,500**; if you have to buy climate control, mattresses or appliances, the figure rises to **€3,000-4,000**. In a normal flat it is recovered with the first four to eight weeks of high season.

## What is mandatory and how much does it cost?

| Item | Why | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Registration with the Andalusian Tourism Registry | Without it you cannot advertise | **€0** (if a manager processes it, some charge; we do not) |
| Association certificate authorising tourist use | Required by the Junta since 2025 | €0-60 (some administrators charge for the certificate) |
| First-aid kit, extinguisher and smoke detector | Mandatory by decree | €60-120 |
| Complaint forms and sign | Mandatory | €0-15 |
| Air conditioning in bedrooms and living room (fixed or portable; fans do not count) | Mandatory if you open between May and August | €0 if already there; €600-1,200 per installed split (what we recommend) or €250-400 per portable unit |
| Beds of legal size (80×190 single, 135×190 double) and 18 cm mattresses | Mandatory | €0 if they comply; €250-500 per bed if not |

## What is not mandatory but needed for it to work?

- **Two complete sets of bed linen and towels per place**: while one is in the washing machine, the other is on the bed. €250-500 for a 4-place flat.
- **Full kitchenware**: plates, glasses, cutlery and pots for double the places, coffee maker, toaster, microwave. €150-300.
- **Wi-Fi**: the guest takes it for granted. €25-35/month.
- **Television** with channels or apps. €0-300.
- **Code lock or key box**: to get in without anyone waiting. €40 (key box) to €250 (smart lock).
- **Professional photo shoot**: it is what sells the listing most. €120-250, or included if the manager does it.
- **Small repairs and painting**: a guest forgives old, not broken. Highly variable.

## What do you not need to buy?

Expensive decoration, designer crockery or five-star hotel sheets. A guest values cleanliness, everything working and a comfortable bed; the rest adds little. Nor do you need to replace furniture in good condition for looking "old": it shows in the photos and the price reflects it.

## How long does it take to recover?

A well-located 4-place flat leaves the owner about €1,100-1,200 a month on average over the year, with peaks of more than double in July and August. A €2,000 set-up is recovered in summer in a month and a half; if you start in November, allow four or five months.

## And the expenses that come afterwards?

The fixed ones (association fees, electricity, water, internet, IBI, insurance) and replacements are explained in [How much would my flat really earn?](/guias/cuanto-gana-un-piso-turistico). The manager, if there is one, charges no fee: they charge a percentage of what comes in, so a month without bookings is a month without commission.

## Sources

- [Junta de Andalucía: registration with the Tourism Registry is free (FAQ, in Spanish)](https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/organismos/turismojusticiadesregulacionyadministracionlocal/areas/turismo/registro-turismo/establecimientos-servicios/paginas/faq-viviendas-turismo.html)