Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry has directed Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday rental listings for failing to comply with local regulations, including missing license numbers and unclear ownership details. This move is part of a broader government initiative aimed at addressing Spain’s housing affordability crisis, which has been exacerbated by platforms like Airbnb.
The crackdown primarily affects popular tourist destinations such as Madrid, Barcelona, and the Balearic Islands, where authorities argue that short-term rentals have contributed to a housing shortage and inflated rental prices. Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy emphasised the need to prioritise housing rights over commercial interests in these areas, where high property demand and limited availability have driven prices up, making it difficult for local residents to secure affordable housing.
Airbnb has expressed its intention to appeal the decision, arguing that the Ministry’s actions are disproportionate and affect listings that should not be subject to licensing requirements. The company maintains that it is merely a digital platform and delegates compliance responsibilities to its hosts. In response, Airbnb asserts that the government’s actions are based on an overreach of authority and an indiscriminate approach to enforcing regulations.
This development reflects a growing trend in European cities to impose stricter controls on short-term rental platforms. In Barcelona, for example, authorities have announced plans to phase out all tourist apartment licenses by 2028 to protect long-term housing availability for residents. Similar initiatives are being considered across other European cities grappling with housing shortages and rising rental costs due to the influx of short-term rental services.
As Spain moves forward with these regulatory changes, the outcome of Airbnb’s appeal and the implementation of further rental restrictions will likely serve as a model for other cities facing similar challenges. Balancing the needs of the tourism industry with those of local residents remains a delicate issue, and Spain’s approach may influence future policy decisions in Europe’s most visited urban centres.
