Tourists in Seville could face a water supply disruption in the middle of their holiday as new, strict plans have been put in place to contain the impact of an influx of visitors.

The mayor’s office has announced plans to cut off water supplies to any resident of the Andalusian capital who rents out their homes through Airbnb or other websites without complying with municipal building regulations.

The move comes amid growing protests across Europe over the impact of tourism, which has led to a rise in property prices and pushed locals out of the market.

“We will practice zero tolerance towards holiday homes operated without a license,” said José Luis Sanz, the mayor of Seville.

The council’s review has so far identified 715 homes that do not comply with regulations introduced in 2022, which require holiday homes to have a separate entrance if they are located above the first or ground floor.

However, it is estimated that more than 5,000 apartments in Seville are operated illegally.

In June, Barcelona City Council announced that it would revoke all licenses for tourist rentals of apartments by 2028.

And both the Balearic and Canary Islands governments have announced tougher action against the rental of apartments without a license.

Ciudadana Sevilla, a platform campaigning against the impact of renting to tourists in Seville, said the mayor’s plan would do little to solve people’s problems in the real estate market.

“The crucial question is not whether these are legal or illegal apartments, but a total moratorium on all new licenses,” said David López, a spokesman for the group.

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