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Spain: Spain’s government has fined Airbnb €64 million (£56m) for advertising unlicensed short-term rental properties, as authorities continue to intensify enforcement amid ongoing concerns over housing availability and affordability.
The fine, issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, relates to more than 65,000 Airbnb listings found to be in breach of consumer protection and housing rules.
Authorities said the adverts included properties without valid licence numbers, listings where licence details did not match official registers, and incorrect host information.
While the government said the fine is final at an administrative level, Airbnb said it intends to challenge the decision in court.
The ministry said the penalty represents six times the profit Airbnb allegedly generated from the non-compliant listings during the period between official warnings and their removal.
The enforcement action forms part of a wider national effort to tighten oversight of short-term accommodation. Spain introduced a new national registration system for short-term rentals in July, requiring listings to display valid registration numbers.
Airbnb said it has been working with Spanish authorities to support enforcement of the new system, adding that more than 70,000 listings on its platform have added a registration number since January.
Spain’s government has repeatedly linked the growth of unlicensed short-term rentals to reduced housing availability, particularly in major cities and tourist hotspots.
Consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy said thousands of families were “living on the edge” due to housing pressures.
As previously reported by ShortTermRentalz, Spain has stepped up action against illegal short-term rentals over the past year, reflecting an intensified crackdown on OTAs across the country.
Last year, Barcelona announced plans to phase out tourist apartments by 2028 as part of wider efforts to prioritise long-term housing for residents.
Highlights:
Spain fined Airbnb €64 million for advertising more than 65,000 unlicensed short-term rental listings.
The fine relates to missing or incorrect licence information and breaches of consumer protection rules.
Airbnb has been ordered to remove the listings and said it plans to challenge the decision in court.
The action forms part of Spain’s wider crackdown on illegal short-term rentals and housing pressures.
