The Spanish government is stepping in to remove around 66,000 properties from Airbnb for breaching tourist accommodation regulations. This action comes as protests against over-tourism ramp up, especially in the Canary Islands where thousands marched to express their grievances last weekend. Pablo Bustinduy, the minister responsible for social rights, revealed that many rental properties failed to meet necessary legal criteria, including lacking proper licenses.
A ruling from a Madrid court mandated that Airbnb must swiftly delete nearly 5,000 problematic listings out of the identified batch. The violation of various housing norms is at the heart of this clampdown, reflecting growing concerns over the impact of short-term rentals on local housing availability and costs.
As the average rent in Spain has skyrocketed over the past decade, residents are increasingly frustrated. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has voiced a commitment to combating the surge of tourist apartments, stating, "there are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes."
While Barcelona plans to eliminate its short-term tourist apartments by 2028, Airbnb is not taking the ruling lightly, announcing intentions to appeal. The company argues that the real issue facing Spain is housing supply and insists that regulation won't fix these deeper problems.
With Spain's attraction to tourists projected to grow even further, civil unrest over tourism rates shows no signs of slowing down this summer, evidenced by the protests taking place. Activist movements such as "Menys Turisme, Més Vida" expect to rally on June 15, drawing attention to these housing issues linked to rampant tourism growth.
A ruling from a Madrid court mandated that Airbnb must swiftly delete nearly 5,000 problematic listings out of the identified batch. The violation of various housing norms is at the heart of this clampdown, reflecting growing concerns over the impact of short-term rentals on local housing availability and costs.
As the average rent in Spain has skyrocketed over the past decade, residents are increasingly frustrated. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has voiced a commitment to combating the surge of tourist apartments, stating, "there are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes."
While Barcelona plans to eliminate its short-term tourist apartments by 2028, Airbnb is not taking the ruling lightly, announcing intentions to appeal. The company argues that the real issue facing Spain is housing supply and insists that regulation won't fix these deeper problems.
With Spain's attraction to tourists projected to grow even further, civil unrest over tourism rates shows no signs of slowing down this summer, evidenced by the protests taking place. Activist movements such as "Menys Turisme, Més Vida" expect to rally on June 15, drawing attention to these housing issues linked to rampant tourism growth.
