Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said too many people were buying Spanish homes as an investment rather than to live in.

Spain is planning to impose a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK. Announcing the move, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the "unprecedented" measure was necessary to meet the country's housing emergency.

One of these measures aims to limit the purchase of homes by non-resident, non-EU foreigners, by making them pay up to 100 per cent of the value of the property they wish to buy in tax. Speaking at a housing forum event, Sanchez warned access to housing has become “one of the main challenges facing European societies, such as the Spanish one”.

Public anger is growing as locals are being priced out of home ownership with rents being driven up by gentrification and landlords shifting to more lucrative, short-term tourist rentals, especially in urban and coastal areas.

Spain is planning to bring in strict legislation for property purchases in an attempt to control the country's rapidly escalating housing crisis, which has left residents complaining of being unable to afford to buy or rent a property.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday proposed a range of measures to combat a housing crisis in the country, including a 100% tax on the purchase of homes by non-resident non-EU foreigners.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez proposed on Monday a series of measures to tackle a housing crisis in the country, including a 100% tax on

Spain is planning to impose a 100 per cent tax on real estate for buyers from non-EU countries such as the UK, in a bid to improve affordability in the housing market by deterring foreign purchases. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the plan for the punitive property tax,

Residents from non-EU countries, such as the UK, could have a 100 per cent tax levied against them if they buy a home in Spain

For expats and non-resident buyers aspiring to own a home in Spain there’s a lot to learn. From understanding property tax in Spain to learning about the mortgage process and interest rates, there’s a lot of information you’ll need to cover before you put an offer in on your dream home.