Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry has mandated Airbnb to remove over 65,000 vacation listings for non-compliance with local regulations. The ministry stated that many of these listings lacked proper license numbers, while others had numbers that did not correspond with official records.
This action comes as Spain faces a housing affordability crisis, which has fueled public protests over rising housing and rent costs, attributed in part to the proliferation of short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb in major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy emphasized the need to tackle the “illegality” and “lack of control” in the holiday rental sector, advocating for the protection of housing rights.
As of last November, there were approximately 321,000 homes in Spain with valid holiday rental licenses, marking a 15% increase since 2020. However, it is estimated that many more operate without the necessary licenses. Earlier this year, Barcelona announced plans to phase out all short-term rental licenses by 2028 to help stabilize the housing market for residents.
Airbnb is contesting the removal order, arguing that the ministry overstepped its authority and used an “indiscriminate methodology” that included compliant rentals. They noted that they had previously appealed the ministry’s notification regarding non-compliant listings in court, but Madrid’s high court supported the eviction order.
The government intends to enforce the removal systematically, with an initial order affecting 5,800 listings nationwide in regions as varied as Madrid, Andalusia, and Catalonia. This effort is part of a broader aim to address ongoing housing issues and restore accessibility to living spaces for the Spanish population.
In light of the rising concerns over housing availability, the efforts by the Spanish government can be seen as a necessary step towards creating a more balanced housing market that prioritizes long-term residents while fostering a sustainable tourism economy.