Spain’s leftist government has imposed a €64 million (RM307 million) fine on Airbnb for advertising banned rental properties, as the country grapples with a housing shortage.
The consumer affairs ministry confirmed the fine is final and ordered Airbnb to “correct the violations by deleting illegal content.” Authorities found that 65,122 Airbnb listings breached consumer regulations, including promoting properties without licences or with mismatched licence numbers.
The penalty equals six times the illegal profit Airbnb earned between the time the offending listings were flagged and when they were removed.
Airbnb said it will challenge the fine in court, arguing that the ministry’s actions “are contrary to applicable regulations in Spain.” The company added that it is collaborating with Spain’s housing ministry on a new registration system, with more than 70,000 listings now updated with a valid registration number.
Spain’s booming tourism sector, which drew a record 94 million visitors in 2024, has fueled concerns in cities like Barcelona over unaffordable housing and the conversion of residential units into short-term rentals. Consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy stressed that no company is above the law, particularly regarding housing regulations.
Earlier this year, the ministry also ordered Booking.com to remove over 4,000 illegal listings, part of ongoing efforts to protect local residents from displacement due to tourism-driven rental practices.
