Latest news with #SpanishConsumerRightsMinistry
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Spain's crackdown on Airbnb listings raises red flags for summer tourists
Travellers enjoy a day out a beach in Barcelona, Spain, which is experiencing a housing crisi due to overtourism. Image: Unsplash As travellers set their sights on Spain's sun-soaked and culturally rich cities this summer, they must tread carefully in light of a significant new clampdown on Airbnb lodgings. Spain's effort to curb the adverse effects of overtourism has led to a wave of removals, with over 65 000 holiday rental listings ordered for deletion due to violations of local regulations. The Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry has identified several key issues behind this crackdown: many listings reportedly lack required licence numbers, fail to clarify whether the property owner is an individual or a corporation, and often present discrepancies between the listed information and the official records. These violations come amid a burgeoning housing affordability crisis that has ignited protests across the nation, particularly in hotspots like Madrid and Barcelona. As Spain prepares for another busy tourist season, concerns about overtourism have already sparked demonstrations. In May, thousands took to the streets in the Canary Islands to voice their dissatisfaction with the surge in short-term rentals, which many locals believe are exacerbating housing shortages in their communities. 'Airbnb will continue to appeal against all decisions related to this case. No evidence of rule-breaking by hosts has been put forward,' said an Airbnb spokesperson. 'The root cause of the affordable housing crisis in Spain is a lack of supply to meet the demand. The solution is to build more homes - anything else is a distraction.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading This counters claims that restricting short-term rentals will solve the housing crisis. Despite the Spanish stand-off between local authorities and Airbnb, the recent legal developments provide some insights. The Madrid court decision from May 13 is seen not as an outright ruling on the merits of regulation but rather as an interim measure. Initially, the Ministry proposed the removal of 5 800 listings, but after scrutiny from Airbnb, the number was lowered to 4 984, indicating some compliance within the platform. Spain faces a staggering backdrop of nearly 4 million vacant homes, comprising over 14% of its total housing stock. Yet, only 0.5% of these properties are classified as short-term rentals. Critics of the crackdown question the efficacy of such measures, pointing to cities like New York and Barcelona, where short-term rental restrictions have favoured hotel chains and often worsened housing problems for locals. Airbnb's position is clear: the platform aims to work closely with national authorities to develop consistent short-term rental regulations across the European Union. The company has already launched various initiatives to foster compliance with local laws, promoting transparency and accountability among hosts. Despite ongoing tensions, Airbnb recently forged partnerships with local authorities in regions such as the Canary Islands and Ibiza to improve the quality of tourist accommodations while benefiting both visitors and residents alike. These partnerships not only provide clarity for hosts but also aim to enhance the local community's experience of tourism. As the summer season approaches and the allure of Spain's vibrant culture and sunny beaches draws in visitors, potential travellers need to exercise caution. With local regulations shifting rapidly, verifying the legitimacy of an Airbnb listing before booking could be the difference between a dream vacation and a major setback.
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.
Euronews
20-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Spain orders Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday rental listings
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. '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.
