Spain orders Airbnb to block nearly 66,000 holiday rental listings over rule violations

Spain has ordered Airbnb to artifact much than 65,000 vacation listings on its level for having violated rules, nan Consumer Rights Ministry said Monday.

The ministry said that galore of nan 65,935 Airbnb listings it had ordered to beryllium withdrawn did not see their licence number aliases specify whether nan proprietor was an individual aliases a company. Others listed numbers that didn’t lucifer what authorities had, it said.

Spain has ordered Airbnb to artifact much than 65,000 vacation listings on its level for having violated rules. ZUMAPRESS.com

Spain is grappling pinch a housing affordability crisis that has spurred authorities action against short-term rental companies.

In caller months, tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to nan streets protesting rising lodging and rental costs, which galore opportunity person been driven up by vacation rentals connected platforms for illustration Airbnb that person proliferated successful cities for illustration Madrid and Barcelona and galore different celebrated tourer destinations.

“Enough already pinch protecting those who make a business retired of nan correct to housing,” Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy told reporters connected Monday.

In caller months, tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to nan streets protesting rising lodging and rental costs. AP

Airbnb said that it would entreaty nan decision. Through a spokesperson, nan institution said it did not deliberation nan ministry was authorized to norm connected short-term rentals — and that it had utilized “an indiscriminate methodology” to see Airbnb rentals that do not request a licence to operate.

Last year, Barcelona announced a scheme to adjacent down all of nan 10,000 apartments licensed successful nan metropolis arsenic short-term rentals by 2028 to safeguard nan lodging proviso for full-time residents.

The ministry said it had notified Airbnb of nan noncompliant listings months ago, but that nan institution had appealed nan move successful court.

Spain’s authorities said Madrid’s precocious tribunal had backed nan bid sent to Airbnb. Bustinduy said it progressive nan contiguous removal of 5,800 rental listings from nan site. Two consequent orders would beryllium issued until nan astir 66,000 removals are reached, he said.

Spain’s authorities said nan first information of affected properties were located crossed nan country, including successful nan capital, Madrid, arsenic good arsenic successful nan regions of Andalusia and Catalonia, whose superior is Barcelona.