Spain's Prime Minister has been forced to defend his new controversial property tax on sales to non-EU buyers which will come as a massive hit to Brits.

In Spain, an ‘unprecedented’ housing tax on foreign-owned properties  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said last Wednesday that his government would issue a 100% housing tax on properties bought by residents from outside the European Union.

While new car registrations remained strong in Spain, other major European markets, including France and Germany, saw marked declines. View on euronews

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he would propose to ban purchasers from outside the European Union from buying properties, as the government seeks to curb rising housing prices, which have become an increasing source of friction.

As Spain continues dealing with a nationwide housing crisis, its government has proposed an unconventional fix to the problem — and one that will not please foreigners. Spain has announced plans to implement a 100% tax on homes purchased by non-European Union residents,

Spain's prime minister said too many foreigners were buying investment homes. But efforts to discouraging them could hit the economy, experts said.

Spain is planning a raft of measures to address its brewing housing crisis, including an up to 100% tax on properties bought by people who are neither citizens nor residents of the European Union.

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

Spain’s government will seek to limit the number of houses sold to foreigners by significantly raising the taxes they pay.

Pedro Sanchez said the EU should put an end to anonymity of users in social-media platforms and hold their CEOs personally accountable if they fail to comply with regulations.

Spain's housing market faces unprecedented change with new foreign buyer restrictions. The government's proposal targets non-EU investors with potential 100% property taxes.