Latest news with #ConsumerRightsMinistry
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Everything we know about the Spain AirBnB saga so far
Spain is the most popular international destination for British holidaymakers, with 18 million of us visiting the sunny nation in 2024. However, those who have Airbnb bookings for the coming months may be startled to learn that Spain's authorities have called for the removal of 66,000 short-term holiday listings on the grounds that they are in breach of tourist accommodation regulations. So, what does this mean for already booked Airbnbs in Spain? We'll get to that, but it's useful to know why it's happening… Numerous anti-tourism protests have taken place in Spain since 2024, following a growing housing affordability crisis. Locals in places including Madrid and Barcelona have shone a spotlight on short-term holiday rentals - typically those in residential areas - claiming that the short-term rental market is pushing up housing prices. "No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country,' Spain's consumer minister Pablo Bustinduy said to journalists following the Spanish court's decision on delisting short-term rentals. Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry opened an investigation into Airbnb last year, and Spanish courts have since deemed many listings to be illegal, claiming thousands of them do not openly show a tourism licence or registration number (at least one that is recognised by the authorities), or they do not show the legal status of the landlords. The High Court of Justice in Madrid has ordered the immediate removal of 5,800 listings, and is promising two further phases totalling up to 66,000 listings. The listings include whole properties only – individual room listings do not feature in the ban. Airbnb claims that even this initial figure has been lowered to 4,984, after they flagged a number of instances where listings were in compliance with the applicable regulations. There will be no impact whatsoever on reservations for the summer in Spain, at least from Airbnb's side. Meaning no cancelled plans and no compensation needed as a result of the recent ruling. The online platform confirmed to Yahoo News that it would be appealing the decision and that it has no plans to take any listings down immediately. "No evidence of rule-breaking by hosts has been put forward,' it said in a statement. 'The decision goes against EU and Spanish law and a previous ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court.' Airbnb could also argue that it is a platform subject to the Digital Services Act, with no monitoring obligations. However, if it is asked to remove content by the Spanish Supreme Court, it would be required to do so. It will likely argue that it's not classified as a real estate provider, so displaying a registration number will lie with the final tourism service provider. The Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) counted more than 350,000 short-term rentals in Spain in 2024, which includes listings on sites Airbnb, Vrbo and Only Airbnb has been targeted in the recent ruling. Airbnb doesn't only offer short-term rentals but also hotels, hostels, rural houses, bed and breakfasts and tourist apartments. There's a growing resentment towards short-term lets worldwide, with many claiming that short-term rentals are affecting house prices. Airbnb policies have become more strict in certain places, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Edinburgh and New York, but Airbnb claims that since the new anti short-term rental regulations in these cities have been in effect there have been no major changes to accommodation availability. 'The solution is to build more homes – anything else is a distraction,' Airbnb said in a statement to Yahoo News. 'Governments across the world are seeing that regulating Airbnb does not alleviate housing concerns or return homes to the market – it only hurts local families who rely on hosting to afford their homes and rising costs.' According to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) census in 2021, Spain has almost four million vacant homes that make up over 14% of Spain's total housing stock. 'Millions of euros [are] taken from everyday hosts and small businesses, often to the benefit of large hotel chains,' Airbnb claims. Read more: The key travel rules you must know after EU-UK deal Fish and chip shop wins fight to partially convert to Airbnb
Forbes
01-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Spain Overtourism: Housing Crisis Sparks Bold Reforms
A protest against overtourism and housing prices on the island of Mallorca in July, 2024. Spain is grappling with a severe housing crisis fueled by overtourism, short-term rentals, and foreign property investments. In response, the government has taken bold steps, including ending its golden visa program, removing over 65,000 illegal Airbnb listings, and proposing a 100% tax on foreign property buyers. With an intention to welcome 1 million foreign workers over the next three years, the plan to solve Spain's overtourism issues has never been more prescient. Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry ordered the removal of over 65,000 Airbnb listings, aiming to curb overtourism and protect housing for residents. The government stated that these listings violated short-term rental rules, including the use of missing or fake license numbers and unclear ownership details. After Airbnb appealed the decision, it was up to the High Court in Madrid to take the final decision, and it sided with the government. As of November 2024, approximately 321,000 homes in Spain held holiday rental licenses, representing a 15% increase from four years earlier. The Spanish government is increasingly attempting to balance tourism benefits with housing needs, with plans such as Barcelona's initiative to ban all 10,000 of its short-term rentals by 2028, ensuring that residents can find affordable housing. Many of Spain's short-term rentals are in popular tourist destinations such as Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, and the Balearic Islands. These are places where locals conducted protests last year against reduced housing availability and rising rents, which have increased by 80% over the past decade in some areas. The move reflects broader European trends as countries grapple with rising rents and housing shortages. Several groups of European activists are intending to protest across the European Union on 15 June. This is a coordinated day that they deem necessary due to the urgent need to limit the growth of tourism, as evidenced by rising rents, housing shortages, pollution, and overcrowded public transportation. Airbnb released a statement to say that it would continue its appeal. It believes that housing supply is the real issue and the cause of residents being unable to find affordable accommodation. It said, "The solution is to build more homes—anything else is a distraction." Airbnb is correct in that there is a considerable shortfall of available accommodation for residents—the Bank of Spain estimates that 1.5 million social rental dwellings are needed to meet EU housing standards in the country. The same is true in other European countries. For example, the U.K. Prime Minister cleared barriers to housebuilding this week, a move that comes after homebuilding has been in decline since the 1960s. His government hopes to reach its target of building 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, as per Bloomberg. In Spain, the proliferation of real estate investors has exacerbated the situation as has the rise of digital nomads using Spain as a base, leading landlords to favor short-term tenants over longer-term tenants who are more protected. The rise in rents is one of the main reasons that Spain recently ended its golden visa program. Spain's investor visa required a minimum property investment of €500,000 (approximately $523,000), after which investors could obtain a three-year residency. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez highlighted that the vast majority—94%—of these visas were granted in connection with real estate investments in already strained housing markets, such as Madrid and Barcelona. The Prime Minister, Sánchez, is also seeking to prevent foreign buyers from purchasing properties, introducing a 100% real estate tax on any properties bought. Sanchez said that foreign buyers were snapping up real estate in tourist locations; in 2023, for instance, British buyers bought one-fifth of all purchases. This tax is part of a larger bill to improve housing market accessibility for residents, including taxing short-term rental and penalizing owners that leave homes empty. Spain's housing crisis highlights the delicate balance between tourism and residents, particularly in popular tourist destinations. By cracking down on illegal short-term rentals and introducing taxes on foreign buyers, the government is attempting to prioritize affordable housing for locals. With the news that Spain is bucking EU trends and intending to welcome 1 million immigrants, including the regularisation of undocumented foreign workers, over the next three years, the intention to solve the affordable housing crisis for Spanish residents couldn't be any more timely.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
6 alternatives to Airbnb in Spain as short-term rental crackdown expands
Spain's Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy, on Monday, revealed the decision of the Consumer Rights Ministry to remove about 65,000 Airbnb listings in popular tourist spots of the country such as Madrid and Barcelona. The government cited reasons of violations in the form of missing license numbers, lack of distinction between individuals and corporations and differences between listed and official records. The move is part of a larger effort by the Spanish government to address the issue of over-tourism in the country which has led to an acute housing crisis- something the Spaniards blame lucrative short-term rentals for. Airbnb plans on appealing against all such decisions made by the government which followed an investigation launched into their operations in December last year. A spokesperson from the company said, 'No evidence of rule-breaking by hosts has been put forward, and the decision goes against EU and Spanish law, and a previous ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court.' The company has pointed the root of the housing issue towards lack of construction in comparison to demand and does not believe that the crackdown will resolve any issues. While the future of Airbnb listings in Spain remains uncertain, this could be an opportunity to become an ethical traveler by looking for more sustainable housing solutions when on the move. Local Europeans created Fairbnb in 2016 to counter Airbnb's damaging effects. The website is designed in a way to promote fair travelling and compensation for tourists and locals alike. Anyone who is a local resident, abides by the laws of the location and agrees to follow a 'one host, one house' principle is eligible to become a host on the website. The platform also routinely vets all listings to make sure they are functioning in a sustainable manner and has become a fairly popular means of arranging local accommodation. If culture and experience is what you're looking for, then a traditional B&B might just be the right fit for you. Though Airbnb also started out on the principle of helping tourists live with locals, somewhere along the way that experience got dissolved in commercialization. However, a local bed and breakfast can still allow you to experience living in someone's home, chatting with the owners and getting some excellent service while you're at it. Websites like HomeExchange allow you to look for people who wish to travel to your hometown and are willing to engage in a simple trade of homes for certain agreed upon dates. This is a suitable option for those travelling with big families and looking for multi-room accommodations to live in. Besides helping someone else experience your hometown, you also experience a different culture by blending in with the local crowd in a sustainable fashion. Looking after someone's house might just be the key to experiencing a residential setting in a foreign land and this is exactly what housesitting entails. More often than not, people are on the lookout for someone to take care of their pets instead of leaving them in a pricey care center while they are out of town. Simply, hop on to websites like TrustedHousesitters, MindMyHouse or Nomador to connect with people looking for house-sitters. Though Airbnb originally became popular since it proved to be lighter on the pocket than traditional hotels, over time, with the amount of additional taxes and fees the platform charges has made the prices come at par with local hotels. Hostels can also be a cheap and better way to meet other like-minded people and possibly make friends for life. Certain neighborhoods now feature service apartments called aparthotels for those looking for more privacy but also do not wish to hamper long-term accommodation in the process. Couchsurfing, though a bit more rugged in nature, can also be a suitable option for those who like to be on their feet while on vacation. Though there are certain factors to be considered before resting on this option, it can prove to be handy for people who aren't too picky about their needs and are good at convincing people to let them crash at their place for some time.
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brits heading to Spain should make four checks now after Airbnb crackdown
In recent months, tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets protesting rising housing and rental costs, which many say have been driven up by holiday rentals on platforms like Airbnb that have proliferated in cities like Madrid and Barcelona and many other popular tourist destinations Holidaymakers heading to Spain should "act immediately" if they're concerned they might be impacted by a major Airbnb ban. This week, authorities in Spain announced a major crackdown on Airbnb, demanding the removal of over 65,000 listings from the platform for flouting regulations. The Consumer Rights Ministry highlighted that a significant number of the 65,935 Airbnb properties ordered to be delisted lacked proper licensing information or failed to clarify if the listing was managed by an individual or a company, with some using incorrect license numbers. The country is facing a severe housing affordability crisis, prompting authorities to take a stand against short-term rental firms like Airbnb. Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@ While many Brits may sympathise with those in Spain feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and high rents generally, they may still worry about whether or not their holidays will go ahead as planned this summer. Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital and engagement at travel money firm eurochange, spoke to the Mirror about the likely impact of the ban and what holidaymakers should do. 'This announcement is likely to impact the number of accommodation options in tourist hotspots like Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca and the Canary Islands. It will likely also mean higher prices will be introduced for remaining short-term rentals, whilst demand is high," Laura predicted. 'It's also very likely to impact hotel bookings, potentially raising prices during peak seasons, and it could be much more difficult to get a last-minute room. Travellers will need to book hotel rooms much further in advance, especially during peak summer months." Laura's advice for anyone travelling to Spain in the near future is to act swiftly and check four things. 'If you're planning a trip to Spain, I'd recommend checking if your accommodation has proper licensing and booking well in advance if you can," she said. 'If you're worried your Airbnb booking might be affected, contact your host immediately to confirm if they have been impacted and get their perspective on the situation. It's also worth checking with Airbnb directly about their refund policy for regulatory cancellations. Typically, they will offer full refunds when bookings are cancelled due to regulatory changes. 'Start looking for alternative accommodation as soon as possible, especially if travelling during peak season. Hotels or hostels are likely to be your best option. Many coastal areas still have traditional tourist apartments that operate with proper licenses too. If you're struggling to get a refund and you've already paid the full amount, make sure you document all communications and contact your credit card company to discuss getting your money back. 'Make sure you also check your travel insurance to see if it covers accommodation cancellations due to regulatory changes. It's definitely worth bearing this in mind for future trips too.' Public discontent over escalating housing and rental prices, exacerbated by the surge in holiday lets offered on platforms such as Airbnb, has led to widespread protests across Spain, including major cities like Madrid and Barcelona. "Enough already with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing," declared Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy during a press briefing on Monday. In response to the government's order, Airbnb has vowed to challenge the decision, arguing through a spokesperson that the ministry lacks jurisdiction over short-term rentals and accusing it of employing "an indiscriminate methodology" that wrongly targets Airbnb listings not requiring a license. Barcelona took a bold step last year, unveiling a strategy to phase out all 10,000 apartments registered for short-term rentals by 2028, aiming to preserve residential housing for locals. The ministry revealed that Airbnb had been informed about the noncompliant listings months ago, but the company had challenged the decision in court.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain orders removal of more than 65,000 Airbnb tourist rentals it says violate regulations
Spain has launched a major clampdown on Airbnb properties, ordering the removal of over 65,000 holiday rental listings across the country that fail to comply with regulations. The Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry cited several violations, including missing licence numbers, not specifying whether the owner was an individual or a corporation, and discrepancies between listed information and official records. The crackdown comes against the backdrop of Spain's growing housing affordability crisis, which has sparked widespread protests over rising rents and home prices. Many Spaniards blame short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb for worsening housing shortages, particularly in popular tourist destinations like Madrid and Barcelona. On Monday, Spain's Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the move aimed to address the general "lack of control" and "illegality" in the holiday rental business. "No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country," he told reporters. The nationwide enforcement primarily targets listings in Madrid, Andalusia, and Catalonia, where tourism is most heavily concentrated. The ministry said it had notified Airbnb about the noncompliant listings months ago, but that the company had appealed the move in court. Spain's government said Madrid's high court had backed the order sent to Airbnb. Bustinduy said it involved the immediate removal of 5,800 rental listings from the site. Two subsequent orders would be issued until the total of 65,935 removals is reached, he said. Official data shows Spain had approximately 321,000 licensed holiday rentals as of November last year- a 15 per cent increase since 2020 - with many more operating without proper licenses. The Consumer Rights Ministry opened an investigation into Airbnb in December last year. Airbnb told Euronews Travel it will continue to appeal against all decisions linked to this case. Related Another summer of disruption? Spain's anti-tourism protests reignite ahead of Easter break Planning a trip to Spain this summer? Here are all the new rules and regulations you need to know 'No evidence of rule-breaking by hosts has been put forward, and the decision goes against EU and Spanish law, and a previous ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court,' a spokesperson said. 'The root cause of the affordable housing crisis in Spain is a lack of supply to meet demand. The solution is to build more homes - anything else is a distraction." The spokesperson added that governments across the world are seeing that regulating Airbnb does not alleviate housing concerns or return homes to the market: "It only hurts local families who rely on hosting to afford their homes and rising costs.' Last year, the Spanish government launched a general crackdown on holiday rentals amid growing frustration among residents who say mass tourism is aggravating a housing crisis. Locals say they are being priced out of their cities due to gentrification and landlords favouring more lucrative short-term tourist lets. Barcelona has already taken aggressive measures to address the problem, announcing plans to eliminate all 10,000 licensed short-term rental apartments by 2028 to prioritise housing for permanent residents.
