The María Auxiliadora Senior Citizens’ Residence in Almuñécar uses part of its facilities as tourist accommodation, although it does not have a permit to do so. This is evident from the holiday rental advertisements on the Internet, from complaints from neighbours and, above all, from the request of the Consistory, governed by the Popular Party, to cease the activity. The company denies any irregularity.
The aforementioned residence is located in Almuñécar (26,000 inhabitants), one of the main municipalities on the tropical coast of Granada. Although it opened its doors in 2022, its history dates back to the early 2000s. At that time, the place where it was located was a plot of land classified as residential, which was transformed into private care, after an exchange that also expanded the buildable area from 2,400 m². square meters to 6,000, as confirmed by the former owners of the site and this medium was able to verify it thanks to the documentation obtained.
This change of use allowed the subsequent construction of what was the first retirement home to be established on this land. Operated by the German company Evangelisches Johanneswerk España Residencia Costa Tropical, it operated for eight years, until it closed its doors. After that, the building remained disused for almost a decade, until in 2021 it was acquired by the Alfaguara group to reopen the facilities, after an investment of 7 million euros, of the new María Auxiliadora retirement home. In 2022, it received a visit from the Social Services Councilor, María del Carmen Reinoso, during the renovation works.
However, as this newspaper has learned, part of the building is used as tourist accommodation, although it does not have a permit for this. In fact, the apartments, initially intended for the confinement of the elderly, are advertised both on their own website which calls them “Tropicalia Apartments” and on platforms such as Booking. In both cases it is specified that the rental is “special for people over 55”, but anyone, regardless of age, can stay.
On Booking, it has more than a hundred reviews that give it an average score of 8.8 out of 10. With comments that highlight “the spectacular views from the living room and bedroom, the space and the brand new kitchen utensils” or “the calm”. of the , the kindness and the predisposition to ensure that we are well. It should also be noted that the images used to promote themselves are the same as those that appear on the residence’s website, to the point that the photo files share the name of “Residence for Seniors María Auxiliadora”.
Without municipal permit
The residence itself has 95 places of residence, plus the possibility of day stay, and consists of five buildings, several gardens and two swimming pools. However, sources from the community of neighbors located next to these facilities assure that the lower floors are those that are rented for tourist purposes. This newspaper was able to verify, through images, how young people organized parties in the areas of the residence located on the ground floor.
After verifying that something unusual was happening in the residence, the neighbors submitted a letter to the Almuñécar City Council asking for a solution, given that it was proven that not only elderly people lived there, but that some rooms were also rented. After carrying out a series of investigations, the City Council sent a request to the entity that manages the residence to cease the activity.
According to the documentation that elDiario.es Andalucía has had access to, the Sexitano town hall states that “any interested person can rent apartments” and that, after verifying the appropriate license, these facilities allow “exclusively the operation of a geriatric residence, which means that any activity of renting residences or tourist apartments does not have municipal authorization.
The complaint from the City Hall was sent to the company in early August, but in September it is still possible to rent rooms through its own website. At the same time, neighbors claim to continue to see tourists near the residence and on the Booking website the last review from a customer dates back to September 9.
This media outlet contacted the residence and claims that “the operation of the residence has nothing to do with that of the apartments”, so no irregularities would be committed. On the other hand, they “categorically” deny that any tourist activity is carried out in the facilities, stating that only “dependent people” stay there. They claim to operate with “total transparency”, that they comply with the “regulations in force” and that a legal team is taking steps to formulate “appropriate claims”.
Something that directly conflicts with the request of the Almuñécar City Council to immediately cease the activity, exposing itself to the closure of the building and sanctions if this does not happen.
