Spain’s government has ordered Airbnb to take down more than 65,000 holiday rental listings from its platform, citing widespread violations of national housing regulations, the country’s Consumer Rights Ministry announced on Monday, as per The AP.
A total of 65,935 listings were flagged for removal after authorities found that many failed to include a mandatory license number or to clarify whether the property was owned by a private individual or a company. Some listings also included license numbers that did not correspond with official records, the ministry said.
The move comes amid mounting pressure on the Spanish government to address the country’s deepening housing affordability crisis, which has been exacerbated by the growth of short-term rentals in high-demand tourist areas.
In recent months, tens of thousands of citizens have taken to the streets in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, protesting soaring rental prices and housing shortages. Protesters and local officials alike have pointed to the proliferation of platforms like Airbnb as a key factor driving long-term residents out of city centers.
The crackdown aligns with broader efforts across Spain to regulate and reduce the number of tourist rentals. In a bold move last year, Barcelona unveiled a plan to phase out all 10,000 licensed short-term apartments in the city by 2028, aiming to preserve housing stock for permanent residents.
According to the ministry, the listings targeted in this latest enforcement wave span across the country, with affected properties in Madrid, Andalusia, and Catalonia, the region where Barcelona is located.
