Short-term rentals move fast. Guests book, arrive, and check in within days or even hours — which is exactly why a clear, signed rental contract is essential. In Spain, short stays typically fall under arrendamientos de temporada (seasonal or non-residential leases) rather than long-term housing, and tourist accommodation is further regulated at the regional level. In practice, that means hosts need a written agreement and an auditable record of what guests accepted at check-in: house rules, occupancy, payment and deposit terms, liability, and identification. Spanish civil and tourism frameworks allow you to do this digitally — including with an electronic signature — so long as you capture the right evidence.
The legal landscape you operate in (Spain, 2025)
Spain combines a national base with autonomous-community rules for tourist accommodation:
- National: Short stays often qualify as “use distinto de vivienda” under the Urban Leases Act (LAU), which covers seasonal contracts distinct from primary-residence rentals. Separately, all lodging providers must identify guests and keep a traveler-entry record (parte de entrada) for law-enforcement reporting. Electronic signatures are legally valid under EU eIDAS and Spain’s Ley 6/2020, so contracts can be signed online. Ministerio del Interior
- Regional examples (tourism rules vary by region):
- Andalucía: Tourist homes (viviendas con fines turísticos) are regulated by Decreto 28/2016, updated by Decreto 31/2024. Registration is required and rules govern how the activity is offered and advertised. Junta de Andalucía
- Catalunya: The Decret 75/2020 sets the tourism framework, including identification of users and compliance obligations for habitatges d’ús turístic. Noticias Jurídicas
- Comunidad de Madrid: Decreto 79/2014 regulates tourist apartments and homes for tourist use; the region continues to update enforcement criteria. bocm.es
- Comunitat Valenciana: In 2024 a decreto-ley tightened the tourist-home regime; in 2025 authorities began purging non-compliant listings from the tourism registry. BOE
- Balearic Islands (current events): Municipalities may impose stricter limits; for instance, Palma has announced a total ban on new tourist-rental licenses, keeping only existing ones. El País
Important: This article is informational only and not legal advice. Always check your local tourism authority’s latest rules (they can change quickly) and consult counsel where needed.
Why a signed short-stay contract matters
- Clarity = fewer disputes. A written agreement sets expectations on guest behavior, occupancy, noise, smoking/pets, deposits and damages, and check-out obligations — reducing misunderstandings. (Industry guidance consistently recommends a written tourist-rental contract.) Idealista
- Regulatory hygiene. Many regions demand specific disclosures and identification; having a contract alongside the traveler-entry record helps you demonstrate compliance during inspections. Ministerio del Interior
- Enforceability. Digital contracting is recognized under eIDAS/Ley 6/2020, and when combined with a proper audit trail (who signed, what was signed, when, from which device/IP), it provides stronger evidentiary value. firmaelectronica.gob.es
Introducing Contracts in UpMarket (now in Online Check-in)
Contracts in UpMarket let you attach a binding agreement to your online check-in so every guest must review and sign as part of their digital registration. No separate emails, no chasing PDFs, no manual filing.
What guests experience
- During online check-in, guests see your agreement in their language, confirm terms, and e-sign before they can submit their registration.
- Their signed contract is auto-stored on the booking.
What you get (benefits)
- A binding legal agreement between you and your guests captured at the right moment (check-in).
- Stronger accountability: house rules and fees acknowledged in writing, which helps with chargebacks and claims.
- Compliance support in Spain where written terms and guest identification are expected/mandatory under various frameworks. (Combine with UpMarket’s guest-registration tools for the parte de entrada.) Ministerio del Interior
- Evidence that travels with the booking: UpMarket saves a timestamped snapshot and PDF linked to the reservation — downloadable at any time.
How to set up Contracts in UpMarket (step-by-step)
1. Start by going to your Host Management Area → Online Check-in → select Contract Management.
2. Click “Create Your First Contract.”
3. In Name, add an internal label (e.g., “Apartment A – Standard Rules”).
4. In Content, upload your contract text.
You can provide content in 7 languages so guests review terms in their preferred language.
5. Add your signature (this appears in the contract footer).
6. Choose which properties the contract applies to from the dropdown.
Leave blank to apply across all properties.
7. That’s it — Contracts are enabled. From now on, guests must review and sign during online check-in before they can submit their registration.
Pro tip (Spain): Keep the contract concise and guest-friendly; pair it with your up-to-date ID-collection flow for the traveler-entry record and keep both documents handy if inspectors request them. Ministerio del Interior
Best-practice clauses to include
- Stay dates & occupants (max guests, no unregistered visitors)
- House rules (noise/quiet hours, smoking, pets)
- Fees & deposits (cleaning, late check-out, damage)
- Liability & security (keys, access devices)
- Local compliance (tourist registry number, if required in ads and communications) Junta de Andalucía
Frequently asked (Spain-specific) questions
Is a written contract mandatory everywhere?
Not always stated explicitly in every region’s tourism decree, but a written agreement is the industry standard and pairs with national identification and disclosure duties. It’s strongly recommended to maintain a signed document for each stay, especially given active regional enforcement in places like Andalucía, Catalunya, Madrid, and the Comunitat Valenciana.
Do electronic signatures hold up?
Yes. Qualified/advanced e-signatures under eIDAS and Spain’s Ley 6/2020 have legal effect. Pair the signature with an audit trail (timestamp, IP/device, document hash) for evidentiary strength.
What about the traveler-entry record?
That’s separate from your contract. Spain’s Interior Ministry requires lodging providers to collect and communicate guest data (the parte de entrada). UpMarket’s check-in flow helps you gather guest IDs and export what you need.
Get started today
Ready to streamline check-ins and protect every booking?
Contracts in UpMarket turn a moment that used to be manual and risky into a smooth, compliant step of your online check-in. With a signed agreement attached to each reservation, you reduce disputes, stay aligned with Spain’s regional rules, and keep evidence on file—without extra emails or paperwork.
Activate Contracts today and you’ll:
- Require a legally binding e-signature before guests can submit registration
- Strengthen accountability with house rules, deposits, and fees clearly accepted
- Stay compliant across Spain’s regional frameworks with an auditable record
- Keep everything in one place—timestamped snapshot + PDF stored on the booking
Get started in minutes:
- Open your Host Management Area → Online Check-in → Contract Management
- Click Create Your First Contract, upload your content (available in 7 languages), add your signature, and assign it to properties
- Publish—and from now on, every guest signs during check-in
Want a quick walkthrough? Book a 30-minute demo to see how Contracts, guest registration, and ID capture work together.
Prefer to try it yourself? Enable Contracts on your account now and protect your next stay.
P.S. Already using Online Check-in? Contracts plug right in—no extra setup beyond your contract content. If you operate across multiple regions, create variations per property to match local requirements.
