Spain´s Consumer Ministry Takes On Airbnb “Illegal” Listings

The Spanish government has ordered Airbnb to block more than 65,000 holiday listings on its platform for having violated rules.

Spain´s Consumer Rights Ministry claims that many of the 65,935 Airbnb listings it had ordered to be withdrawn did not include their license number or specify whether the owner was an individual or a company.

Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy said “enough already with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing”.

Airbnb said that it would appeal the decision. Through a spokesperson, the company said it did not think the ministry was authorized to rule on short-term rentals — and that it had utilized “an indiscriminate methodology” to include Airbnb rentals that do not need a licence to operate.

The ministry said Madrid’s high court had backed the order sent to Airbnb. Bustinduy said it involved the immediate removal of 5,800 rental listings from the site. Two subsequent orders would be issued until the nearly 66,000 removals are reached.

Airbnb has appealed the move in court.

Spain is grappling with a housing affordability crisis that has spurred government action against short-term rental companies and both the cities of Madrid and Barcelona have taken action against unlicensed holiday rentals.

In recent months, tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets protesting rising housing and rental costs, which many say have been driven up by holiday rentals on platforms like Airbnb that have proliferated in cities like Madrid and Barcelona and many other popular tourist destinations.

Official data shows Spain had approximately 321,000 licensed holiday rentals as of November last year- a 15 per cent increase since 2020 – with many more operating without proper licenses.

The Consumer Rights Ministry opened the investigation into Airbnb in December of last year.

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