Britons looking to vacation in Spain are urged to double-check their lodging arrangements due to the crackdown on tens of thousands of unlicensed properties facing closure.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda in Spain has pinpointed 86,275 illegal short-term rental properties listed on online platforms, instructing their immediate removal this week. These properties, often listed on multiple websites simultaneously, must now be taken down by the hosting platforms. This action comes following the launch of a centralized registry for short-term rentals six months ago.
AndalucÃa, including Seville, Málaga, and Granada, leads in infractions with 21,872 properties being removed, followed by the Valencian Community with 14,387 removals. The Canary Islands rank third, with 13,726 properties facing delisting for operating without the necessary permits.
This development raises concerns for British travelers, as around six million of the 16 million annual visitors to the Canary Islands are from the UK. Moreover, Barcelona alone has 5,000 holiday rentals operating without proper authorization.
While no specific platform has been singled out by the government, Airbnb stands out as a major player in the market. Last year, Spain directed Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday rental listings, according to Reuters.
By eliminating thousands of unauthorized listings, the government aims to see many of these properties reenter the long-term rental market, ultimately easing pressure in high-demand areas. Spain was the first country to implement EU regulations leading to this initiative, a fact highlighted by officials.
However, travel expert Zoe Adjey cautions that this shift could result in fewer lodging choices and increased prices for vacationers. Zoe, a senior lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality at UEL, emphasized that popular tourist destinations like Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, and Malaga will be most impacted by the stricter enforcement.
If you have booked an Airbnb in Spain for this year, it is essential to act promptly. Zoe recommends contacting your host immediately to confirm their compliance status and conducting necessary verifications.
Airbnb and Booking.com have been contacted for comments on the situation.