Government orders removal of illegal property listings
The Spanish government has fined short-term rental platform Airbnb €64 million for advertising thousands of properties that were not licensed for tourist use. Authorities said the listings breached consumer protection rules and included apartments that were either unregistered or banned from being rented.
The penalty requires Airbnb to remove the offending advertisements. Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry said the fine is not subject to appeal, although Airbnb has stated it plans to challenge the decision in court.
Housing pressure behind regulatory crackdown
Spain is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, but soaring visitor numbers have intensified pressure on local housing markets. Officials argue that short-term holiday rentals have reduced housing supply for residents and pushed prices beyond the reach of many families.
Consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy said thousands of families were struggling with housing costs while a small number of businesses profited from models that displaced local residents. He stressed that no company, regardless of size, is above the law when it comes to housing regulation.
Airbnb disputes ruling and cites cooperation
Airbnb said it was confident the ministry’s actions were contrary to Spanish regulations and confirmed it would contest the fine. The company added that it has been working closely with Spain’s Ministry of Housing since regulatory changes introduced in July to support a new national registration system for short-term rentals.
Wider impact on tourist cities
Spanish authorities said more than 65,000 Airbnb listings violated consumer rules, including missing or incorrect licence numbers. The decision follows protests earlier this year in several Spanish cities, where residents demanded tighter controls on short-term rentals ahead of the summer tourist season.
Spain joins a growing list of major cities worldwide that have imposed strict limits on Airbnb and similar platforms, including Barcelona, New York, Berlin, Paris and San Francisco. Governments argue such measures are necessary to preserve neighbourhoods and protect long-term housing availability.
