Spain’s government has ordered Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) to immediately remove more than 65,000 holiday rental listings from its platform, marking the country’s most aggressive action yet against short-term rentals that officials blame for exacerbating a nationwide housing affordability crisis.
The Consumer Rights Ministry announced Monday that the targeted listings violated existing regulations by failing to include proper license numbers or specify whether owners were individuals or corporations. Others listed incorrect license numbers that didn’t match government records.
“No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country,” Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy told reporters, describing the government’s goal to end what he called “illegality” in the holiday rental business.
The sweeping order affects properties across Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, including Madrid, Barcelona, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and the Basque Country. Madrid’s High Court has backed the government’s request to immediately withdraw 5,800 listings, with two additional orders planned to reach the full 65,935 removals.
The crackdown comes as Spain grapples with a severe housing affordability crisis that has become Spaniards’ primary concern. Rental prices per square meter have risen 85% nationwide over the past decade, with tourism and seasonal rentals viewed as key inflationary drivers. Spain welcomed a record 98 million international visitors in 2024 to become the world’s second most-visited country after France.
Removing the Airbnb listings is just one component of Spain’s regulatory offensive against short-term rentals. In January 2025, the government implemented new rules requiring all property owners to register with a national database and obtain permits before listing on booking platforms. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also unveiled plans to raise taxes on income from holiday rentals and impose levies of up to 100% on property purchases by non-European Union buyers.
Read: Spain Plans 100% Tax on Non-EU Property Buyers to Curb Housing Crisis
“Our obligation is to prioritize use of homes over tourist use,” Sánchez said at a press conference. “There are too many Airbnbs. What’s lacking is housing.”
Barcelona announced the most stringent local policy in June 2024, ordering a complete ban on tourism rentals by 2028 that will affect all 10,000 currently licensed short-term rental apartments in the city.
Airbnb has announced plans to appeal the government’s order, disputing both the legal authority and methodology used to identify violations. The platform argues that Spain’s housing crisis stems from insufficient supply rather than short-term rentals.
Official data shows Spain had about 321,000 homes with holiday rental licenses as of November 2024, representing a 15% increase from 2020 levels, with many additional properties operating without official permits.
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