MADRID: Spain has fined trip rental agency Airbnb 64 million euros (US$75 million) for promoting unlicensed vacationer rental houses, the Client Rights Ministry stated on Monday (Dec 15), as the federal government cracks down on extreme tourism that’s driving up housing prices.
Spain’s leftist authorities, together with some metropolis councils and regional authorities, has been looking for to curb tourism leases that use websites akin to Airbnb and Reserving.com, which many in Spain blame for driving up housing prices by limiting the availability of houses accessible to residents.
Airbnb in July withdrew 65,000 listings that the ministry stated violated its guidelines.
The advantageous is equal to 6 instances the revenue Airbnb gained from the unlawful listings, the ministry stated in a press release, and is the second largest the ministry has imposed for breaching client rights, Client Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy informed reporters.
Airbnb stated it might enchantment.
“Airbnb is assured that the ministry actions are opposite to relevant rules in Spain and we intend to problem this advantageous in courtroom,” an organization spokesperson stated.
Airbnb stated short-term rental guidelines modified in July and that it’s working with Spain’s Ministry of Housing to implement a brand new registration system.
“Greater than 70,000 listings have added a registration quantity since January,” the corporate added.
In 2024, Ryanair was fined 108 million euros in Spain for charging further charges on cabin baggage.
The European Fee stated earlier this 12 months that the fines imposed by Spain on Ryanair and different funds airways breached rules.
The ministry stated the Airbnb advantageous was geared toward serving to sort out Spain’s housing disaster.
“There are literally thousands of households dwelling on the sting due to housing, whereas just a few get wealthy from enterprise fashions that drive individuals from their houses,” Bustinduy stated within the assertion.
