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The Spanish government has demanded the removal of nearly 66,000 property listings from Airbnb, alleging widespread violations of regulations governing tourist accommodation. This major action comes as public anger over the impact of mass tourism intensifies ahead of the summer season, with large-scale protests erupting in the Canary Islands over the weekend.
Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, announced that the affected listings breached various norms related to housing designated for tourist use. The campaign against unlawful short-term rentals is gaining momentum, as concerns about the accessibility and affordability of housing continue to rise across Spain.
The crackdown follows a ruling by a court in Madrid that ordered Airbnb to immediately delist 4,984 of the properties flagged by the ministry. These properties are located across six autonomous regions: Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, and the Balearic Islands.
Bustinduy’s ministry is currently awaiting further court decisions regarding the remaining 60,000-plus listings that the government deems to be in violation of legal requirements. According to the ministry, many of the listings failed to provide a valid licence number, submitted false or incorrect documentation, or did not disclose the legal status of the host—raising questions over whether the rentals were being operated by private individuals or professional businesses.
The minister hailed the court ruling as a significant step forward in defending citizens’ right to housing, calling it “a clear victory for those who fight to protect the right to housing.” He emphasized that economic interests must not be allowed to override this fundamental right, adding, “It is possible to ensure that no company, however powerful or influential, stands above the law.”
Housing affordability has surged to the forefront of public concern in Spain, with rental prices having more than doubled in the last decade while wages have remained largely stagnant. In urban centres and popular tourist areas, local residents are increasingly being priced out of the housing market, with the proliferation of tourist apartments cited as a major contributing factor.
Spain, the world’s second-most visited country after France, welcomed a record 94 million foreign tourists in 2024—an increase of 13% from the previous year. This booming tourism sector, while vital to the economy, is increasingly being blamed for the housing crisis, prompting strong words from political leaders. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared, “There are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes,” vowing to curb the unchecked growth of tourist rentals and protect residential housing stock.
Local governments are also beginning to take decisive action. Barcelona, for instance, has announced plans to eliminate its stock of 10,000 short-term tourist apartments by the end of 2028. Meanwhile, Airbnb has been engaging with local authorities in regions such as the Canary Islands, Ibiza, and Murcia to reach compliance agreements intended to ensure hosts adhere to rental regulations.
Airbnb responded to the government’s announcement and the court order by insisting it would appeal the decisions, maintaining that the allegations were unfounded. The platform stated that no concrete evidence had been presented proving that hosts violated applicable rules. It also referenced a 2022 Spanish Supreme Court ruling, which concluded that Airbnb’s role is limited to that of a “neutral intermediary” and not that of a real estate provider, placing the legal responsibility for listing information squarely on the hosts.
In a broader defense, Airbnb argued that the true driver of Spain’s housing affordability crisis is insufficient housing supply to meet growing demand. A company spokesperson said, “Governments across the world are seeing that regulating Airbnb does not alleviate housing concerns or return homes to the market – it only hurts local families who rely on hosting to afford their homes and rising costs.”
Public frustration with over-tourism has been simmering for years, and it reached new heights last summer, with numerous protests staged in some of Spain’s most visited destinations. Housing displacement caused by tourist rentals has become the dominant grievance among residents.
The protests have returned in full force this year. On Sunday, thousands of demonstrators marched across the Canary Islands under the banner “Canaries have a limit,” voicing concerns over the environmental and social impacts of mass tourism. In Majorca, the activist group Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) is organizing similar protests, with a major demonstration planned for 15 June.
With the number of foreign visitors to Spain rapidly approaching 100 million annually, the country’s balancing act between sustaining tourism and protecting its residents’ quality of life looks set to remain a defining issue in the months ahead.
