Spain Fines Airbnb $75 Million Over Unlicensed Tourist Rentals

The Spanish government has levied a 64 million euro ($75 million) fine against Airbnb for listing tourist rentals that did not have the required licenses, officials announced Monday.

The consumer rights ministry stated that many of the rentals either lacked license numbers – a requirement in numerous Spanish regions – or displayed license numbers that did not match official records. In some instances, the listings contained inaccurate host information.

This action represents the latest move by the Spanish government to regulate short-term rental companies like Airbnb and Booking.com, as the nation struggles with a housing affordability crisis, particularly in city centers and tourist hotspots.

Airbnb has stated its intention to challenge the fine in court. The company maintains it is cooperating with Spanish authorities to implement a new national registration system for short-term rentals, noting that over 70,000 listings have added registration numbers since January.

Across the political spectrum, Spain's leftist government and many citizens view short-term rental companies as contributing to rising housing costs. Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy issued a statement saying that “There are thousands of families living on the edge because of the housing crisis, while a few enrich themselves with business models that evict people from their homes.”

Previously, in May, the consumer rights ministry directed Airbnb to remove approximately 65,000 listings due to violations of regulations.