Spain has ordered Airbnb to take down over 65,000 holiday rental listings as part of a sweeping crackdown on short-term lets, in a move the government says is aimed at tackling the country’s growing housing crisis.

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The Consumer Rights Ministry announced on Monday that most of the listings in question either failed to display a licence number or lacked basic details about whether the property was owned by an individual or a company. Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the goal was to end what he called a culture of “illegality” and “lack of control” in the holiday rental market.

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“No more excuses,” Bustinduy told reporters. “Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country.”

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Airbnb plans to appeal the decision, saying the ministry lacks the authority to enforce such rules and did not provide a credible list of the allegedly non-compliant listings. A spokesperson said the list also includes seasonal rentals that are not technically classified as tourist properties.

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The decision comes as both national and local authorities in Spain intensify efforts to rein in platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, which they accuse of fuelling overtourism and pushing locals out of the long-term rental market. In cities like Barcelona and Madrid, residents have long complained that short-term lets are hollowing out neighbourhoods and driving up housing costs.

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According to official figures, there were 321,000 licensed holiday rentals in Spain as of November 2023 — a 15% increase from 2020 — with many more believed to be operating without a licence. Barcelona has taken the toughest line so far, announcing a full ban on tourist rentals by 2028.

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Spain is not alone in its efforts. Speaking on il-Kazin recently, Tourism Minister Ian Borg warned that landlords risked a fine of up to €23,000 for failing to register with the Malta Tourism Authority.

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A study commissioned by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) revealed that nearly half of Malta’s private holiday rentals operate without a licence. Specifically, while the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) has issued 5,771 permits for holiday-furnished premises, platforms like Airbnb and VRBO list approximately 10,043 such properties in Malta.

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In Spain, the issue has become politically charged. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has already unveiled plans to hike taxes on income generated through platforms like Airbnb, while the Consumer Rights Ministry opened its investigation into the company in December 2024.

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As legal battles begin to unfold, the pressure is now mounting on digital platforms to comply with tougher national rules — or risk being sidelined in one of Europe’s most visited countries.

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