Air conditioning and heating in hotels and holiday rentals in Spain: are they mandatory and are there temperature limits? (2026)

Updated: 10 November 2026

In summer guests ask about air conditioning first; in winter, about heating. We read Andalusia's Decree-Law 13/2020, Decreto 28/2016 on holiday rentals, Spain's RITE and Real Decreto-ley 14/2022 (links at the end). Where we could not confirm something, we say so. This is not legal advice: check with your adviser or installer.

Summary

Hotels, hostales and guesthouses in Andalusia: heating and cooling are classification requirements, mandatory in some categories.
Holiday rentals in Andalusia: the requirement in Decreto 28/2016 was struck down by the courts.
Temperature limits: the 2022 limits of 19 and 27 ºC stopped applying on 1 November 2023. The RITE does not list hotels.
If you have air conditioning, it is included in the price and worth showing clearly on Google and your website.

Hotels in Andalusia

Decree-Law 13/2020, annex II (consolidated text, last amended 28-6-2024). The table has columns for 1 to 5 stars and an «M» marks what is mandatory:

Public areas: heating/cooling with fixed units (5 points) and air conditioning (10 points).
Rooms: adjustable heating and cooling with fixed units (8 points) and air conditioning in rooms (15 points).
All four have mandatory marks in some categories. We could not confirm the exact star ratings: check annex II.
Hot/cold split or fan coil units count as air conditioning.
Thermostats and cut-off when windows open add points but are not mandatory.

Exception if you only open for one season

Notes to annexes II and III:

If the property only opens from October to April, it does not have to have cooling.
If it only opens from May to September, it does not have to have heating.

Hostales, guesthouses and hostels

Decree-Law 13/2020, annex III:

In common areas and rooms: adjustable heating and cooling with fixed units.
It is marked as mandatory in most columns; we could not match each mark to each type of property.
The same seasonal exception applies.

Holiday rentals in Andalusia

Decreto 28/2016 (consolidated text, Junta de Andalucía):

Article 6(d) required fixed cooling in bedrooms and living rooms if the rental operated from May to September, and heating if it operated from October to April.
It now reads «Suprimido» (removed) following a Supreme Court ruling. It is no longer a requirement.
The rental must still be adequately furnished and equipped (art. 6(c)).
If you have air conditioning or heating, they are included in the price (art. 8.1). Do not charge them separately.

Temperature limits: 19 and 27 ºC

Real Decreto-ley 14/2022, art. 29 (consolidated text, BOE):

It set a maximum of 19 ºC for heating and a minimum of 27 ºC for cooling, with humidity between 30 % and 70 %.
It applied to the buildings listed in the RITE: offices, shops and public venues (culture, shows, restaurants, transport). The list does not mention hotels.
We have not confirmed whether it covered a hotel bar or restaurant open to the public.
It applied «until 1 November 2023». We found no extension in the consolidated text.

What remains: the RITE

Spain's thermal installations regulation (RD 1027/2007), I.T. 3.8, as worded in 2009:

For the same uses (offices, shops, public venues): no more than 21 ºC for heating and no less than 26 ºC for cooling.
It does not mention hotels or accommodation either.
We have not read the current consolidated RITE. Your authorised installer should check the system's maintenance.

How to show it

Google and schema.org:

In your Google Business Profile, review your hotel amenities; if something is wrong, you can ask Google to fix it.
On your website, use schema.org amenityFeature with a LocationFeatureSpecification: for example, name «air conditioning» and value true.
For holiday rentals, Google asks for the names «ac» and «heating», in English, with value true.
Be accurate: if only some rooms have air conditioning, say so per room.

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Frequently asked questions

Is air conditioning mandatory in a holiday rental in Andalusia?

Not any more. Article 6(d) of Decreto 28/2016 required it from May to September, but it was removed after a Supreme Court ruling. If you have it, it is included in the price.

Does a hotel in Andalusia need air conditioning?

It depends on the category: Decree-Law 13/2020 marks it as mandatory in some. If you only open from October to April, you do not have to have cooling.

Do the 27 ºC and 19 ºC limits still apply in 2026?

No. The limits in Real Decreto-ley 14/2022 ended on 1 November 2023, and its list of buildings did not mention hotels.

Sources

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