Spain blocks more than 65,000 Airbnb holiday rental listings
Baku, May 19, AZERTAC
Spain has ordered Airbnb (ABNB.O), to withdraw more than 65,000 listings for holiday rentals which it said violated existing rules from its platform as part of a general crackdown on a business blamed for contributing to the housing crisis in the country, Reuters reports.
Most of the Airbnb listings to be blocked do not include their licence number, while others do not specify whether the owner was an individual or a corporation, the Consumer Rights Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said his goal was to end the general "lack of control" and "illegality" in the holiday rental business.
"No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country," he told reporters.
Bustinduy said Madrid's high court is backing the request to withdraw as many as 5,800 listings.
Airbnb will appeal the decision, a spokesperson said on Monday. The company believes the ministry does not have the authority to make rulings over short-term rentals and failed to provide an evidence-based list of non-compliant accommodation. Some of the incriminated listings are non-touristic seasonal ones, the spokesperson said.
According to official data, there were about 321,000 homes with holiday rental licences in Spain as of November last year, 15% more than in 2020. Many more operate without official licences.
The Consumer Rights Ministry opened a probe into Airbnb in December and in January, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled a plan to raise taxes on income from holiday rentals through platforms.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni took Spain's toughest move so far in June last year when he ordered a total ban on tourism rentals by 2028.
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