Spain could impose a 100% tax on the value of properties bought by non-EU residents to improve the housing market for locals.

Spain is planning to impose a tax of up to 100% on the value of properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK. Announcing the move, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the "unprecedented" measure was necessary to meet the country's housing emergency.

Spain is looking to protect its housing market but it may make the country less desirable for British retirees

Real estate in Spain is currently taxed at 10 per cent for new-build homes and 6 per cent for existing properties. Sanchez said the “unprecedented” measure was necessary to meet the country’s housing emergency, claiming non-EU residents bought 27,000 properties in Spain in 2023, “not to live in, but to make money from”.

Much of Europe faces housing shortages, but Spain’s is especially acute. It is not just rents: 75% of Spaniards own property, but for young people the prospect of a first-time buy is receding into middle age.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday proposed a 100% tax on foreign-bought homes to help address the country's housing crisis. Why it matters: The tax would apply to all homes that non-EU residents purchase,

Amid rising real estate prices, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants to impose a 100% tax on property bought by foreign speculators. That downturn was fueled by years of overbuilding and property speculation,

The government of Spain has proposed a new tax of up to 100% on property purchases by non-European Union citizens to put a stop to Airbnb purchasing properties throughout the country. New law goes into effect immediately in order to prevent potential terrorism threats and put a stop to overtourism Just as Italy’s residents have long complained that Airbnb has overpopulated historical centers in major cities across the country,