Fewer Holiday Lets. More Room for Yours.
Fewer holiday lets, more room for yours: in August 2026 Estepona had around 15% fewer active holiday lets than a year earlier, 2,272 whole homes. Along the whole coast between Marbella and Sotogrande the supply fell by 12 to 24%. Over the same period, revenue for a holiday home let all year round in Estepona rose by 8.8%.
For everyone who lets with a registration, that is good news: less competition with demand that stays strong. In the twelve months to August 2026 Estepona had the highest occupancy of the six towns, 41 to 67% over the year and 57 to 81% in summer. The figures come from our own market analysis over 36 months.
Estepona: 15% fewer holiday lets in a year
Supply is shrinking while demand holds: occupancy and revenue remain high. This is the holiday-let market in Estepona in August 2026:
| Estepona, holiday lets | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Active holiday lets | 2,272 | August 2026 |
| Change in 12 months | −14.7% | August 2026 |
| Revenue per home let all year | +8.8% | August 2026 |
| Occupancy over the year | 41 to 67% | August 2026 |
| Occupancy in summer | 57 to 81% | August 2026 |
The count covers every whole home, from studio to villa, that was active as a holiday let in the municipality in August 2026; single rooms are not included. The comparison is with the same month a year earlier, so the season does not distort the picture. Demand stayed strong: in July 2026 a typical holiday home in Estepona was 63% booked, at €238 a night. Anyone who owns a registered holiday home in Estepona today shares the market with clearly fewer competitors than a year ago.
Less supply along the whole coast from Marbella to Sotogrande
The decline is not specific to Estepona but a trend across the western Costa del Sol. In all six towns of our market area fewer holiday lets were active in August 2026 than a year earlier, with declines of 12 to 24%. In Marbella, the largest market on the coast with 5,166 active holiday lets, the fall was 12.4%.
For owners in Estepona what matters most is where the market stands afterwards, and Estepona is ahead: occupancy in the twelve months to August 2026 was 41 to 67%, in Marbella 38 to 63%. In summer holiday homes in Estepona were 57 to 81% booked, in Marbella 53 to 80%. And revenue for a home let all year round rose by 8.8% in Estepona and by 2.5% in Marbella.
| Key figure, August 2026 | Estepona | Marbella |
|---|---|---|
| Active holiday lets | 2,272 | 5,166 |
| Occupancy over the year | 41 to 67% | 38 to 63% |
| Occupancy in summer | 57 to 81% | 53 to 80% |
| Revenue vs previous year | +8.8% | +2.5% |
| New Build per m² | €5,145 | €7,491 |
Estepona combines the highest occupancy on the coast with New Build prices around 31% below Marbella.
Why are there fewer holiday lets on the Costa del Sol?
The likely reason is the registration and licence requirements, enforced much more strictly since 2025. The decline is measured; the cause is an assessment: homes without a valid registration leave the market, registered ones remain.
Andalusia: a declaration in the tourism register
In Andalusia a holiday home is registered by declaration in the tourism register, under Decree 28/2016 as amended by Decree 31/2024. No licence in the classic sense is needed, but the home has to meet the minimum standards: at least 25 m², 14 m² of built area per guest, cooling in summer and heating in winter. A new home meets them from day one.
The owners' association has a say since April 2025
Since 3 April 2025, holiday letting in an apartment building requires the prior consent of the owners' association, with three fifths of owners and shares. In a new development the first owners shape these rules themselves rather than inheriting an old resolution.
One national register less
An additional national register for short-term rentals, in force since July 2025, was annulled by the Supreme Court on 19 May 2026 because the regions are responsible. In Andalusia only the regional tourism register applies.
Why Estepona is so well placed for holiday lets
Estepona is a town that lives all year round, and guests and owners both feel it. Demand does not come from summer alone.
The longest stays on the coast: 5.9 nights
In the twelve months to August 2026 guests stayed 5.9 nights on average in Estepona, longer than in any of the other five towns; in Marbella it was 5.0 nights. Longer stays mean fewer changeovers, fewer cleans and a calmer calendar.
Almost 13,000 new residents since 2016
Estepona grew from around 67,000 residents in 2016 to almost 80,000 in 2025, an increase of 19.4%. Restaurants, shops and doctors are open all year, and the town is a lively place for guests in winter too.
Debt-free, with record investment
According to the town hall, Estepona has fully repaid inherited debt of more than €300 million and is investing around €27 million in its 2026 budget. A coastal path of more than 21 kilometres, a hospital funded by the town for €15 million and the Bulevar Parque Central make the town more attractive to guests every year.
16.8 degrees in January
At the Málaga airport weather station the average daily high in January is 16.8 degrees, measured over 1981 to 2010, with 180 hours of sunshine in the month. In winter holiday homes in Estepona were 30% booked, the highest winter figure of the six towns.
Where holiday lets perform best in Estepona
For a specific location we also measure comparable two-bedroom apartments within 1.6 kilometres. In September 2026 the figures were:
Punta Plata on the New Golden Mile achieved the highest rates at €226 to €257 a night, right on Playa de Punta Plata. Estepona Pueblo, the centre with its old town, promenade and harbour, came in at €209 to €233. Benamara–Atalaya in the east had the most even occupancy over the year at 40 to 48%, at €189 to €217 a night. Playa Bahía Dorada and Costa Natura in the west were at €170 to €206 and €174 to €202, with quiet developments, pools and gardens.
These neighbourhood figures are a little below the municipal figures because the municipality also counts town and beach locations of every size. Both are measured and describe different sets of homes. Where the data is available, our project pages show the figure for the immediate neighbourhood in the investment section, and I am happy to send you the numbers for any development you are interested in.
New Builds and holiday lets: the advantage of a new development
A new home meets the decree's standards from day one, and the owners' association is formed with its first owners. That makes registration straightforward:
- The specification fits: air conditioning for summer and winter, modern bathrooms, a contemporary kitchen.
- Shape the rules: the first owners decide how the development handles holiday lets.
- Appealing to guests: a communal pool, gardens, a terrace and new furnishings look good in photos and during the stay.
- Predictable: a statutory warranty under Law 38/1999 instead of surprises in the first years.
From purchase to first booking in five steps
With a New Build, preparing the letting runs alongside construction. This is the route:
- Choose the development with a view to location, size and the planned statutes.
- Buy with deposits protected by a special account and bank guarantee.
- Completion at the notary, formation of the association with the first owners.
- Consent of the association for holiday lets.
- Register by declaration in the tourism register, appoint a manager, welcome the first guests.
What does it mean for investors?
Fewer competitors, higher occupancy, growing revenue: anyone letting with a registration in Estepona is in a better position today than a year ago. Value growth comes on top: the public price index for Resales in Estepona rose by 98.7% in five years, an average of 14.7% a year. Past figures, not a forecast.
How investors approach the coast as a whole is covered in our guide Invest in Spanish property. Current projects are listed under New developments in Estepona, and how New Build and Resale prices relate is explained in the note Estepona: New Builds cost only 2.9% more than Resales.
New developments in Estepona
Where the figures come from
Holiday lets: our own market analysis of all whole homes listed as holiday accommodation in each municipality, 36 months to August 2026. Active listings in the latest month, change against the same month a year earlier. Occupancy is the share of offered nights that were booked, shown as a range from typical to upper quarter. Revenue per home let all year round is the sum of typical monthly revenues. Sotogrande is part of the municipality of San Roque. New Builds: our own survey, median asking price per m², 18 September 2026. Resales: public price index, August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many holiday lets are there in Estepona?
In August 2026, 2,272 whole homes were active as holiday lets in Estepona, around 15% fewer than a year earlier. That is the result of our own market analysis over 36 months.
Why are there fewer holiday lets on the Costa del Sol?
In all six towns between Marbella and Sotogrande the supply fell by 12 to 24% within a year. The registration and licence requirements, enforced more strictly since 2025, are the likely reason. That is an assessment, not a proven cause.
What does lower supply mean for owners?
Less competition for everyone who lets with a registration. In Estepona, revenue per holiday home let all year round rose by 8.8% in the twelve months to August 2026, with occupancy of 41 to 67%.
How does occupancy in Estepona compare with Marbella?
In the twelve months to August 2026 it was 41 to 67% in Estepona and 38 to 63% in Marbella. Estepona had the highest occupancy of the six towns between Marbella and Sotogrande.
What do I need to let a holiday home in Estepona?
A declaration in the Andalusian tourism register and, since 3 April 2025, the consent of the owners' association with three fifths of owners and shares. In a new development the first owners shape these rules themselves.
Sources & official links
- BOJA No. 24 of 2 February 2024 – Decree 31/2024 on tourist homes (checked 21.09.2026)
- BOE – Law 49/1960 on Horizontal Property (consolidated) (checked 21.09.2026)
- Poder Judicial – Supreme Court annuls the national short-term rental register (19.05.2026) (checked 21.09.2026)
