Particle.news
Download on the App Store
24 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Spain Orders Airbnb to Remove Over 65,000 Listings for Rule Violations

The Spanish government has begun enforcing a sweeping crackdown on short-term rentals to address a worsening housing crisis, with courts backing the immediate removal of 5,800 properties.

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)
Image
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.
Image

Overview

  • The Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry has mandated the removal of 65,935 Airbnb listings for missing or incorrect license numbers and unclear ownership details.
  • Madrid's High Court has upheld the immediate delisting of 5,800 properties, with further removals planned in stages.
  • The crackdown is part of a broader effort to address Spain's housing affordability crisis, which has sparked mass protests across the country.
  • Airbnb is appealing the decision, arguing that the ministry lacks jurisdiction and has used an indiscriminate methodology to identify non-compliant listings.
  • Barcelona has taken additional measures, planning to phase out all 10,000 licensed short-term rentals by 2028 to prioritize long-term housing for residents.