The Spanish government has imposed a €64 million fine on Airbnb for advertising tens of thousands of holiday rental properties that failed to comply with national and regional regulations. The sanction, issued by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, is now final, bringing the administrative process to a close after the company’s appeal was rejected.
Spa.in Press
According to the ministry, more than 65,000 listings on the platform breached consumer protection rules. The violations included properties advertised without the legally required registration number, the use of false or incorrect licences, and the absence of clear information on whether hosts were acting as private individuals or as professional operators — a key requirement under European consumer law.
Authorities have classified these practices as misleading advertising and unfair commercial conduct. The size of the fine, the ministry said, corresponds to six times the illicit profit allegedly obtained by Airbnb while the irregular listings remained online, even after official warnings had been issued.In addition to the financial penalty, Airbnb has been ordered to remove the unlawful content and to publicly disclose the sanction.
Court backing and further penalties
During the investigation, the High Court of Justice of Madrid had already upheld several orders issued by the ministry requiring the removal of the disputed listings. Regulators also imposed additional, smaller fines for breaches of distance-selling regulations, for failing to cooperate with the investigation, and for disregarding provisional measures designed to protect consumers while the case was under review.
The action forms part of a broader government effort to address Spain’s worsening housing crisis, particularly acute in major cities and tourist hotspots. Short-term holiday rentals have been widely blamed for reducing the supply of long-term housing and driving up rents.
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy said that “no company, regardless of its size or market power, is above the law in Spain”, stressing the social impact of business models linked to short-term tourism.
Airbnb rejects the decision
Airbnb has condemned the fine as incompatible with Spanish and European law. In a statement, the company said it had been cooperating with the Ministry of Housing since the new national rules on short-term rentals came into force on 1 July.
The platform claims that more than 70,000 listings have now added a valid registration number and therefore remain available for booking. Airbnb argues that the obligation for platforms to ensure such information was displayed did not apply when proceedings were launched in 2024, as the requirement was introduced later under updated legislation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has confirmed that it is pursuing further investigations into digital platforms and estate agencies, as part of a wider push to tighten regulation of the holiday rental market and curb practices that, according to the government, are exacerbating Spain’s housing shortage.
