Spain has launched an investigation into Airbnb for allegedly failing to remove thousands of illegal rental listings, in an effort to address housing shortages and rising real estate prices linked to short-term tourism rentals, Reuters reported.
Airbnb confirmed on Wednesday that it is the subject of the probe, which was announced earlier by Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry. The ministry, without naming Airbnb, accused the platform of violating regulations that require rental ads to display valid tourism licenses.
The investigation follows directives issued since summer, demanding the removal of what the ministry called “illegal advertising.” When these demands went unheeded, the ministry began disciplinary actions, which could result in fines of up to EUR 100,000 or penalties based on profits from the disputed listings.
Airbnb has defended its practices, asserting it asks hosts to confirm compliance with local regulations and arguing that not all property owners are required to have tourism licenses. The platform also questioned the ministry’s jurisdiction, citing a 2019 European Union Court of Justice ruling that classified Airbnb as an “information society service” rather than a real estate agent.
“Airbnb is subject to the Digital Services Act and has no monitoring obligations,” the company said, adding that it would appeal any unfavorable ruling.
Spain has ramped up its scrutiny of short-term rentals, which authorities and residents blame for driving up housing costs and exacerbating tourism-related pressures. The issue has prompted region-specific measures, such as Barcelona’s 2028 ban on new tourist rentals. Airbnb criticized the ban, saying it favors the hotel industry without addressing the underlying housing crisis.
The investigation is part of broader European efforts to regulate short-term rentals, with countries like Italy and Croatia also taking action.
Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry has recently expanded its crackdown to include agencies managing large portfolios of rentals on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com.
While the ministry has not named the platform under investigation, it asserted the importance of complying with regional regulations requiring valid license numbers in ads.
The outcome of this investigation could set a significant precedent for the operation of short-term rental platforms in Spain and across Europe.