The conversion of commercial premises into homes has become a strategy to generate new lodging spaces in San Vicente del Raspeig. The council has granted a total of 137 licenses since 2023, out of 178 applications received. Mayor Pachi Pascual confirmed this data in response to questions from socialist councilor Bruno Radermecker during the ordinary June plenary session.
Annual figures show a growing trend in applications. In 2023, 37 were requested and 33 were granted; in 2024, 55 applications received 51 concessions; in 2025, 57 requests were approved with 46 licenses; and so far in 2026, 19 applications have been registered with 7 concessions.
The mayor emphasized that the transformed premises must meet strict conditions for habitability, lighting, accessibility, and ventilation, controlled through the responsible declaration of first occupancy and municipal inspection. If these conditions are not met, an occupancy license is not granted.
The City Council has opened four urban planning disciplinary proceedings for non-compliance with the responsible declaration. Two of these were not legalizable and reverted to commercial use, another was legalized by submitting the responsible declaration, and the fourth is still in process.
Pascual attributed the proliferation of these changes to the immense housing demand, viewing it as a consequence rather than a cause of the decline in commercial activity. The council is holding discussions with other municipalities, such as Petrer, and with the College of Architects to discuss and attempt to limit these changes of use.
