Spain Orders Airbnb to Suspend 66,000 Listings
Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry has mandated that Airbnb block nearly 66,000 holiday rental listings on its platform for failing to comply with local regulations, marking one of the largest enforcement actions against a short-term rental site in the country’s history. The ministry’s order, which targets 65,935 listings nationwide, stems from widespread concerns that unregulated vacation rentals are exacerbating a deepening housing affordability crisis in major tourist hubs such as Madrid and Barcelona.
Inspectors discovered that many of the flagged listings either omitted the legally required license number or misrepresented whether the property owner was an individual or a company. In other cases, the license details provided by hosts did not match the records held by regional authorities. Under Council Directive 2009/13/EC, short-term rentals must display valid authorization and accurate ownership information to protect tenants and residents; Spain’s failure to enforce these rules had fueled public outrage over dwindling long-term housing stock.
The crackdown follows months of mass protests across Spanish cities, where tens of thousands of residents decried surging rents and home prices they attribute to platforms like Airbnb. Demonstrations in central Madrid and Barcelona saw locals block traffic and chant slogans demanding a halt to “touristification” of neighborhoods. Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy characterized the orders as necessary to defend housing rights. “Enough already with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing,” he told reporters, stressing that the government would not tolerate “illegality” or the “lack of control” that leaves residents struggling to find affordable homes.
In response, Airbnb announced its intention to appeal, arguing that Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry lacks the jurisdiction to regulate short-term rentals and accusing authorities of employing “an indiscriminate methodology” that swept up listings legally exempt from licensing requirements. The company maintains that the order risks punishing legitimate hosts and warned that removing such a large volume of listings could exacerbate shortages for travelers and homeowners alike.
The Spanish government disputes these claims, noting it first notified Airbnb of 5,800 non-compliant listings earlier this year and subsequently secured backing from Madrid’s High Court to expand the order. Two follow-up directives have since been issued to escalate removals, ultimately targeting properties across Andalusia, Catalonia and other tourist-heavy regions. Barcelona itself has already unveiled plans to phase out all 10,000 licensed short-term rental apartments by 2028 in an effort to reserve housing for full-time residents.
Industry observers warn that the suspension of nearly 66,000 listings could disrupt the tourism sector, which accounted for 12 percent of Spain’s GDP in 2024 and drew a record 94 million visitors last year. Hoteliers and regional economies fear that an abrupt shortage of vacation rentals may push tourists toward less regulated markets or spur the growth of underground rental networks. At the same time, resident advocacy groups applaud the government’s firm stance, viewing it as a critical step toward rebalancing supply and demand in overheated housing markets.
As Airbnb and Spanish authorities prepare for legal battles, the fate of these listings remains uncertain. Should appeals fail, hosts may face fines and indefinite removal from the platform, while local governments will intensify inspections of other short-term rental services. For renters and homeowners, the outcome will determine whether the wave of regulatory enforcement can curb speculative pressures and restore a semblance of stability to Spain’s embattled housing landscape.
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