Spain cracks down on Airbnb listings
Spain has enacted a major clampdown on Airbnb short term rental properties, ordering the removal of over 65,000 listings from the platform.
It comes after months of backlash over a housing affordability crisis in major cities including Barcelona.
The Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry said listings have violated record keeping discrepancies such as missing licence numbers and owner declarations.
Spaniards have blamed short-term rentals on housing shortages and surging rental costs.
Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said this will address the general ‘lack of control and illegality’ in the holiday let market.
“No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country,” he said.
The move is mostly targeting what it calls illagal listings in Madrid, Barcelona and parts of Andalusia.
Airbnb is appealing the action and has filed a court motion.
According to official data, there are more than 320,000 licensed rental properties but officials say there are many more operating illegally.
The Consumer Rights Ministry first opened an investigation into Airbnb late last year.
The housing shortage crisis has been at the centre of anti-mass tourism protests across Spain in the past year.
Barcelona has already taken measures to alleviate the problem, with plans to remove around 10,000 licensed short-term rental apartments within the next three years.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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