Airbnb must block approximately five thousand rental listings at the request of the Spanish government. The providers have violated multiple rules. The rental platform has appealed to the court and says it will keep the ads online for now.
In total, 65,935 advertisements did not comply with the rules for renting in the tourism sector. Mandatory license numbers were not listed or were false. Some providers could not prove whether the vacation rental was managed by a company or individual.
The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs already demanded a few months ago that Airbnb block the advertisements. Airbnb appealed this decision in court. The High Court in Madrid ruled in favor of the government on Monday. The platform must remove at least 5,800 advertisements immediately.
Airbnb reports in a response that it will appeal again. “No evidence has been provided that hosts have violated the rules. And the decision goes against both EU law and Spanish law, as well as a previous ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court,” says a spokesperson.
The Spanish Minister of Consumer Affairs states that the measure is part of a broader approach to revive the Spanish housing market. “No economic interest takes precedence over the right to housing.”
Spain has been struggling with a housing crisis for years. In many cities, rental prices have doubled in recent decades, while wage increases have lagged far behind. Prices remain affordable for tourists. Many Spaniards point to mass tourism as the cause of the housing crisis. This often leads to protests.
According to Airbnb, the core of the housing crisis in Spain is a shortage of houses to meet demand. “The solution is to build more homes. The rest distracts from the real problem,” says the spokesperson.