Airbnb faces fines of up to €100,000 (maybe more*) from the Spanish authorities for failing to remove thousands of unlicensed tourist apartment listings, despite prior warnings.
This comes after Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry launched formal sanction proceedings against the platform, something that is part of a broader initiative by officials to crack down on unlicensed tourist apartments.
Reuters reports that Airbnb said it always asks hosts to confirm they have permission to rent their places and abide by all local rules. The company also said that the ministry had failed to provide lists of non-compliant accommodation and that many owners do not need a licence to rent out their property.
A spokesperson for the ministry said: “Almost all regional regulations on tourist dwellings require the publication of the licence number in their commercial communications, and failure to do so is considered illegal advertising.”
Meanwhile, Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights and Consumer Affairs maintains another investigation open against various real estate agencies that it claims have carried out abusive practices against tenants in the management of the rental, such as forcing them to pay a commission for the management of the rental, forcing them to sign temporary contracts without justifying the temporality, or including abusive clauses for consumers.
Sources:
https://elpais.com/economia/2024-12-18/consumo-abre-expediente-sancionador-a-una-plataforma-de-pisos-turisticos-al-no-retirar-miles-de-anuncios-sin-licencia.html
https://www.dsca.gob.es/es/comunicacion/notas-prensa/consumo-abre-expediente-sancionador-plataforma-alquiler-pisos-turisticos
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spain-probes-unidentified-holiday-home-renting-platform-listings-without-2024-12-18/
