France, Portugal and Greece 'set to follow Spain's lead' with hefty tax on British holiday homes

France, Greece and Portugal are among several countries reportedly taking action on British holiday homes. This follows a statement from the Spanish Prime Minister that non-resident citizens from countries outside the European Union, including the UK, will face significant tax bills if they wish to purchase property in Spain.

This has caused concern among Brits who were considering retiring to the coastal regions of Spain. However, those planning to settle in sunnier locations such as Portugal, France or Greece may also encounter additional obstacles.

In Portugal, there have been protests over the lack of affordable housing, with banners displaying messages like: "I have to choose between paying for a house or eating."

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Last year, France took measures to address growing discontent over housing availability by passing a bill to tighten regulations on short-term tourist rentals. The number of these rentals increased from 300,000 to 1.2 million between 2016 and 2024.

The Greek government was also compelled to take action last year, announcing a comprehensive ban on short-term rental licences in three central Athens districts due to "a lot of pressure on society", reports the Mirror.

The Spanish government has cited the need for affordable housing as the main reason for its crackdown on second-home ownership. The government has proposed a range of policies aimed at reforming the construction industry, increasing the availability of affordable rentals, and offering incentives to landlords who follow rental guidelines.

One measure includes a tax of up to 100% on properties purchased by non-EU residents, including British buyers. According to Mail