Airbnb has vowed to fight back against Spain’s consumer affairs ministry, which is demanding thousands of ads be removed from the platform. Majorca’s tourism department has launched a fresh crackdown on illegal holiday lets on the island. The Council of Mallorca’s tourism department has said it has almost finalised an agreement with the company to remove ads for the illegal apartments and expects to announce its plans shortly.
The department and Airbnb’s talks have focused on listings that are “manifestly illegal,” including tents, caravans, boats, and shacks. Apartments, houses, rooms in houses, and any other type of residential accommodation are not included. The Council has also welcomed Spain’s consumer affairs ministry’s order that Airbnb immediately remove almost 66,000 ads for illegal tourist lets throughout the country. However, the letting company has vowed to appeal such decision.
Airbnb has reacted to the ministry’s move, accusing it of using an “indiscriminate methodology” when compiling the list, reported the Majorca Daily Bulletin. The company said: “They are at odds with Spanish and European regulations.”
The ministry’s order follows the High Court of Justice in Madrid, which had dismissed an Airbnb appeal against the elimination of ads for 5,800 illegal lets in six Spanish regions, including the Balearics.
Majorca’s officials said: “We welcome everything that the various administrations do to combat illegal offers.”
Airbnb, however, has continued to defend that it is subject to the Digital Services Act. According to a ruling by the European Court of Justice, this means that it has no supervisory obligations and should not be considered a real estate service.
In January 2022, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that information in adverts, including registration numbers where necessary, was the responsibility of the service provider—the accommodation—not the platform on which it is advertised.
Spain is currently grappling with a housing affordability crisis, with short-term rental companies like Airbnb taking a significant portion of the blame. The platforms are accused of helping drive up housing and rental costs as landlords can make more money from short-term than longer-term rentals. Last month, protests took place across 40 cities in Spain to demand a solution to the crisis.
Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, said: “Enough already with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing.”
The Express has contacted Airbnb for comment.