Airbnb clampdown announced by Spain amid over-toursm
The government of Spain has called for the removal of almost 66,000 properties on Airbnb, saying that they breach regulations for tourist accommodation. The crackdown comes following protests against over-tourism ahead of the summer season. The Canary Islands saw thousands demonstrating.
Pablo Bustinduy, the minister for social rights, consumer affairs and the 2030 Agenda, said that the rental properties listed on Airbnb were violating “various norms regarding housing for tourist use.” The announcement came after a court in Madrid ruled that the rental platform must immediately remove 4,984 of the properties on the market that were cited by the ministry.
The properties in question in Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, and the Balearic Islands. Bustinduy’s ministry is awaiting further judicial rulings on the remaining 60,000 properties whose Airbnb listings it considers to be unlawful.
According to the ministries, the listings it identified had either not provided a license number, provided an erroneous one, or did not specify the legal status of the owner. This would show whether they were renting as a private individual or on a professional basis.
The court’s decision was a “clear victory for those who fight to protect the right to housing,” Bustinduy said, adding that “it can be possible to ensure that no economic interest has priority over housing and that no company, however big or powerful, is above the law.”
For Spaniards, as in many other countries, housing has become a major concern in recent months. Higher rent costs, especially in the larger towns and cities, are among the main issues affecting people.
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