Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry has ordered Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 short-term rental listings that were found to violate national regulations. The directive, announced publicly on Monday, May 19th, comes amid growing backlash over housing affordability and unlicensed holiday accommodations across the country.
The blocked listings reportedly lacked required license numbers or failed to disclose whether the property owner was a private individual or a business entity. In some cases, the listed licenses did not match government records. Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the action was part of a broader plan to tackle “illegality and lack of control” in the short-term rental market. Spain’s high court supported the first phase of enforcement, which mandates the immediate delisting of 5,800 properties.
According to government data, more than 321,000 homes in Spain were licensed for holiday rentals as of November 2024. The Spanish Statistical Office has reported an increase of over 15% in such listings since 2020, with many more operating without official registration. Critics argue this surge has worsened housing access for residents, particularly in high-tourism regions such as Andalusia, Catalonia, and Madrid.
Airbnb said it will appeal the decision, asserting that the ministry lacks jurisdiction over such matters and that some flagged properties are exempt from licensing requirements. A spokesperson for the platform claimed that a “non-discriminatory and evidence-based review” was not applied to the listings under scrutiny. The company also criticized the lack of clear criteria used to identify violations.
Housing has become a central policy issue in Spain, where supply continues to lag behind demand. Government officials have proposed tax increases on rental income derived from platforms like Airbnb, part of broader reforms introduced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez earlier this year. Barcelona’s city council had already taken separate action, announcing a complete ban on tourist rentals by 2028.
The Spanish Ministry’s enforcement aligns with similar moves in other European countries. Authorities in Croatia and Italy have also implemented restrictions to mitigate the impact of short-term rentals on local housing markets. The European Commission has supported initiatives aimed at promoting transparency and consumer protection in online tourism accommodations.
