Spain Fines Airbnb £56m Over Listings for Unlicensed Rentals

Spanish authorities have imposed a €64m (£56m) fine on Airbnb after ruling that the platform advertised tens of thousands of holiday properties without the required licences.

The country’s Consumer Affairs Ministry said the penalty follows findings that many listings promoted homes that were either not authorised for short-term rental or were subject to restrictions that banned them from being let to tourists. As part of the sanction, Airbnb has been ordered to remove the affected advertisements.

While the ministry said the decision is not open to appeal, Airbnb has indicated it will contest the fine through the courts. In a statement, the company said it believes the government’s action “does not align with the regulations in force in Spain”.

Spain’s booming tourism sector has increasingly been blamed for driving up housing costs, particularly in major cities and popular holiday destinations. Officials argue that the growth of short-term rentals has reduced the supply of long-term housing, forcing many residents out of their neighbourhoods.

“There are thousands of families struggling to keep a roof over their heads, while a small number profit from business models that push people out of their homes,” Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said.

The government said more than 65,000 Airbnb listings breached consumer protection rules, citing missing or incorrect licence numbers and advertisements for properties not legally permitted to operate as holiday rentals.

Airbnb said it has been working with Spain’s Ministry of Housing since new short-term rental regulations came into force in July, adding that it is supporting the rollout of a national registration system for tourist lets.

Spain has been stepping up enforcement against short-term rental platforms amid growing public frustration. Protests were held earlier this year in several cities, including ahead of the busy summer travel season, as residents called for tougher controls.

Writing on social media platform Bluesky, Mr Bustinduy said the fine sent a clear message. “No company, regardless of its size or influence, is above the law – especially when housing is at stake,” he said.

Spain is not alone in tightening rules on short-term rentals. Cities such as Barcelona, New York, Berlin and Paris have introduced strict limits on platforms like Airbnb in an effort to protect housing supply and curb the impact of mass tourism.

Founded in 2007, Airbnb grew rapidly in the past decade by offering travellers an alternative to traditional hotels. However, its expansion has increasingly put it at odds with local authorities seeking to balance tourism with the needs of permanent residents.