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14h ago

Spain Begins Removal of 65,000 Airbnb Listings Over Housing Rule Violations

The first phase targets 5,800 listings as the government intensifies efforts to address a worsening housing affordability crisis linked to short-term rentals.

FILE - Demonstrators march shouting slogans against the Formula 1 Barcelona Fan Festival in downtown Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during residents protest against mass tourism. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)
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A demonstrator holds a house-shaped sign that reads "from touristic flat to temporary rent to Airbnb" during a protest to demand lower housing rental prices and better living conditions, in Barcelona, Spain, November 23, 2024.
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Overview

  • Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry ordered Airbnb to block 65,935 listings nationwide for violating regulations, citing missing or fraudulent license numbers and unclear ownership details.
  • The Madrid High Court upheld the immediate removal of 5,800 listings, marking the first phase of the government's enforcement action.
  • Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy emphasized the need to combat illegality in the holiday rental market and protect housing access for residents.
  • Airbnb announced plans to appeal the decision, arguing the ministry lacks jurisdiction and has used an indiscriminate approach to identify non-compliant listings.
  • The crackdown comes as Spain faces mass protests over rising rents and housing shortages, with similar regulatory measures emerging in cities like Barcelona, which plans to ban all short-term rentals by 2028.