MADRID – Airbnb has been forced to remove over 65,000 listings for vacation rentals in Spain after the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs revealed that the listings did not comply with legal requirements.

According to information published by El País, these listings lacked mandatory license numbers, contained incomplete information about the accommodation providers, and in some cases, contained entirely fictitious details. The Spanish government has also identified approximately 55,000 additional listings that also do not comply with the new regulations and are now under investigation.

As reported by Reuters, the ministry, led by Pablo Bustinduy, called on Airbnb to take immediate corrective action. According to the ministry, the platform "systematically violates regulations" designed to protect consumers and regulate short-term tourist accommodations, which significantly contribute to rising rental prices in urban areas.

Courts Uphold Government's Actions

The Madrid High Court (Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid) also confirmed the validity of the government's actions, ordering the removal of at least 5,800 specific listings from the Airbnb platform. According to ElDiario.es, this move is of significant importance for the future of digital platforms, as it clearly demonstrates that even global players must comply with local legislation.

The affected regions include the autonomous communities of Catalonia, Andalusia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and Madrid. In these regions, rents for local residents have been unsustainable for a long time due to mass tourism and speculation with apartments.

Airbnb Defends Itself, But Pressure Mounts

Airbnb responded by stating that the government's decision was too broad and described it as "unduly repressive." According to the El Debate website, the platform claims that some of the listings were removed unfairly, as they were offers that did not require a license according to local regulations.

Company representatives also stated that "the responsibility for providing the license number lies with the hosts themselves" and that the company only acts as an intermediary for advertising.

Despite these objections, the Spanish government continues to tighten regulations. As noted by El País, from July 2025, every advertised property must include the license number directly in the listing description. Failure to do so will result in the listing being removed without compensation.

What's Next?

The ministry announced that it will continue to monitor the market and will require digital platforms to provide data on rented properties, their location, and the legal status of the providers on a monthly basis. It also plans to introduce a public registry of legal accommodation facilities to increase transparency and facilitate easy verification of credentials.

As reported by Reuters, Spain is not the only country trying to mitigate the negative impacts of short-term rentals. Similar measures are being taken in Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal, where quotas for the number of vacation apartments are already in place.

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