Spain orders Airbnb to remove over 65,000 tourist rental ads
Airbnb had appealed previous government requests to remove the illegal adverts, but a Madrid court has backed the authorities. (EPA Images pic)
MADRID : Spain's leftist government said today that it had ordered tourist rental platform Airbnb to take down more than 65,000 illegal adverts as it tries to balance the flourishing sector against a housing crisis.
The consumer rights ministry said it had 'urged' the US company's Irish-based subsidiary to remove 65,935 adverts for 'breaching the advertising rules for this type of tourist accommodation'.
The infractions included failing to provide a licence number, not indicating whether the leaser was a professional or a private individual, and giving licence numbers that did not match those granted by the authorities.
'Airbnb had appealed previous government requests to remove the illegal adverts, but a Madrid court has backed the authorities and urged Airbnb to 'immediately' withdraw 5,800 ads,' the ministry said in a statement.
The world's second most-visited country hosted a record 94 million tourists in 2024, making the lucrative sector a driver of its buoyant economy.
However, residents of tourist hotspots such as Barcelona have blamed short-term rentals for scarce and unaffordable housing and changing the fabric of their neighbourhoods.
Consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy will work 'to stop the chaos and widespread illegality of tourist accommodation, as well as to promote access to housing and safeguard consumers' rights', his ministry added.
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