The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.
Spain has ordered short-term rental operator Airbnb to take almost 66,000 listings in the country, widening a growing crackdown on rentals that many locals believe are driving up housing costs and displacing longtime residents.
As Liz Alderman explains in an article in The New York Times, “The government said the listings were in violation of rules because they either lacked licenses, had fake license numbers or failed to reveal whether the property was run by a corporation or an individual.” The company is appealing the decision and says it will keep listings online until a court rules on the appeal.
Like in the United States, short-term rentals are often blamed for contributing to the housing crisis and putting rentals out of reach for residents. “In Spain, the government has sought to reverse the problem with an ambitious program to build more affordable lodging and social housing.” Last year, the city of Barcelona took a hard line on Airbnbs, announcing it would require all STR owners to change the units to long-term, rent-controlled units or sell them by 2028.
FULL STORY: Spain Orders Airbnb to Take Down 66,000 Rental Listings
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