Spain warns against housing ‘free for all' over Airbnb threat
The Spanish government has ordered Airbnb to remove almost 66,000 holiday rentals from its platform for violating local regulations, including failing to list license numbers or specifying the apartment's owner.
Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said that Spain 's economy and housing market are not a 'free for all' and that there is a correlation between the rise of short-term rentals like Airbnb and increasing housing costs.
A recent Bank of Spain report indicated a shortfall of 450,000 homes in the country.
Barcelona announced plans last year to close all 10,000 apartments licensed as short-term rentals by 2028 to protect housing for full-time residents.
Airbnb is appealing the decision to remove the 66,000 homes, asserting it connects property owners with renters but doesn't have oversight obligations.
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