The Costa Blanca rental market is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate for those looking for a home.
According to new data from idealista, every rental listing in the area now receives an average of 35 enquiries before disappearing from the market. This is a 13% increase compared with the same period last year.
In 2024, each listing attracted around 31 contacts. Now, renters are facing even fiercer competition as demand outstrips supply across the Valencian Community.
Costa Blanca rental crisis
Francisco Iñareta, spokesperson for idealista, didn’t mince his words: “For years, idealista has warned about Spain’s worsening rental crisis.”
“In Alicante and along the Costa Blanca, the lack of available homes is driving prices higher. This is making housing increasingly out of reach for many families. Without proper government action, the situation is getting worse, not better.”
Alicante province has seen one of the sharpest rises in rental competition among Spain’s major housing markets, with enquiries per listing up 19% in just a year. The city of Alicante itself now sees around 31 interested families per property, a figure that perfectly illustrates the growing pressure on local renters.
Valencia, by contrast, saw only a modest 3% increase. But across the Valencian Community, the story is the same: too many people chasing too few homes.
Coastal hotspots
Costa Blanca rental market coastal hotspots such as Benidorm, Torrevieja, and Jávea have been particularly affected. Their popularity among both Spanish families and international residents means any available rental disappears almost instantly.
Nationally, cities like Palma, Barcelona, and Madrid remain Spain’s toughest rental markets. But in the southeast, Alicante is catching up fast, joining the ranks of Málaga and Seville as one of the most competitive housing markets in the country.
Rising prices, shrinking availability, and mounting frustration for would-be tenants. As Iñareta points out, the only way forward is policy reform and investment in rental supply, because without it, the dream of finding an affordable home in Alicante could soon feel out of reach.
