"With Rents Doubling and Residents Protesting, Spain Orders Closure of 60,000 Airbnb Listings"

Spain Faces Worsening 'Housing Crisis' Due to Overtourism
"Reduced Housing Supply, Soaring Rents"

The Spanish government has ordered the closure of tens of thousands of properties listed on Airbnb for violating tourism accommodation regulations. This measure comes amid growing criticism among residents of popular Spanish tourist destinations that short-term rentals are exacerbating housing shortages and driving up rental prices. Airbnb has announced its intention to appeal the decision.

A street near Plaza Nueva in Granada, Spain, unrelated to the specific content of the article. Spanish Tourism Board Instagram.

According to Spanish media outlet Euro Weekly News and the UK’s BBC on May 25 (local time), the Spanish government recently issued a closure order for approximately 66,000 properties registered on Airbnb, citing violations of regulations related to tourist accommodations.

Spanish authorities believe that the rental properties in question have breached regulations concerning tourist housing. According to the authorities, the identified properties either failed to provide a permit number, provided an incorrect number, or did not specify the legal status distinguishing whether the landlord was a professional operator or a private individual.

A Madrid court has already ruled that Airbnb must immediately remove 4,984 properties identified by the Spanish government from the market. The remaining approximately 60,000 properties deemed illegal by the government are awaiting further rulings.

Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Minister of Consumer Rights, described the court’s decision as “a clear victory for those fighting to protect the right to housing,” adding, “No economic interest can take precedence over housing, and no matter how large or powerful a company is, it cannot be above the law.”

The BBC pointed out, “Housing has become the biggest concern for Spaniards in recent months,” noting, “Rental prices, especially in major cities, have soared. Over the past decade, average rents have doubled, but wages have not kept pace.”

Spain, the world’s second most popular tourist destination, saw 94 million foreign visitors last year, and this year the number is expected to approach 100 million. However, due to surging tourism demand, local residents have expressed frustration that their living spaces are being taken away. The increase in short-term rental apartments for tourists has reduced the supply of housing for locals and driven up rents.

Airbnb image.

On May 18, ahead of the summer holiday season, protests against overtourism were held in the Canary Islands, one of Spain’s leading resort destinations. In response, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized earlier this year, “There are too many Airbnbs and too few homes,” vowing to curb the unchecked expansion of tourist-oriented real estate.

Regional governments across Spain have also taken action. Barcelona, for example, has announced plans to eliminate 10,000 short-term rental tourist apartments by the end of 2028 as part of efforts to stabilize the housing market.

"Airbnb Is an 'Intermediary'"... Airbnb Announces Plan to Appeal

Airbnb stated that it plans to appeal the court ruling, arguing that the Spanish government failed to provide evidence of regulatory violations. Citing a 2022 ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court, the company emphasized that responsibility for providing information about each property rests with the host, and that Airbnb is merely a “neutral intermediary,” not a property provider.

An Airbnb spokesperson told several media outlets, “The root cause of Spain’s housing crisis is a lack of supply that cannot meet demand,” adding, “Even if governments around the world regulate Airbnb, it will not solve housing problems or return homes to the market. Instead, it will harm local residents who rely on hosting for their livelihoods.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.