Spain is stepping up enforcement of its new housing regulations, with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs ordering the removal of 8,318 holiday rental listings that allegedly breach recently introduced rules.
The listings were being advertised as seasonal rentals while allowing stays of less than 31 days — something the government says is no longer permitted under the latest changes to Spain’s Urban Tenancies Act.
81% OF AFFECTED PROPERTIES ARE IN MADRID
Of the 8,318 listings identified, 6,772 are located in the Madrid region, representing around 81% of the total.
Of these, 6,523 are in Madrid city alone.
The properties were being marketed as seasonal accommodation but could reportedly be booked for periods shorter than 31 days. Under the new regulations, the government considers this potentially misleading and therefore an unfair commercial practice.
NEW RULES TARGET SHORT-TERM RENTALS
The action follows Spain’s latest housing decree, approved by the Cabinet in October, as the government continues to tighten controls surrounding temporary and tourist accommodation.
Authorities have asked the two platforms involved — which have not been publicly identified — to remove or block access to the affected listings.
Failure to comply could result in a formal investigation by Spain’s Consumer Affairs department.
PART OF A WIDER CRACKDOWN
This is not the first major enforcement action against short-term rental platforms.
The Spanish government previously issued Airbnb with a €64 million fine, with more than 65,000 listings subsequently removed for failing to comply with regulations.
Booking.com has also previously removed more than 4,000 non-compliant listings following a request from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SPAIN’S PROPERTY MARKET?
The latest move highlights the increasing regulation of Spain’s short-term and seasonal rental sector.
For property owners, investors and real estate professionals, ensuring that properties are correctly classified, marketed and compliant with current rental legislation is becoming increasingly important.
As enforcement intensifies, the distinction between tourist accommodation, seasonal rentals and traditional long-term rentals is likely to play an even greater role in investment and rental strategies across Spain.
Source: SUR in English
