Britons planning a trip to Spain are urged to double-check their accommodation reservations due to the closure of tens of thousands of unlicensed properties. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda in Spain has identified 86,275 illegal tourist and short-term rental properties online, instructing platforms to remove them immediately. This action comes after the launch of a unified register for short-term rentals six months ago.
The region of Andalucía, which includes Seville, Málaga, and Granada, has the highest number of violations with 21,872 properties being removed, followed by the Valencian Community with 14,387 removals. The Canary Islands rank third, with 13,726 properties facing removal for operating without the necessary permits. This crackdown raises concerns for British travelers, as six million of the 16 million annual visitors to the Canary Islands are from the UK. Furthermore, Barcelona has around 5,000 holiday rentals operating without proper documentation.
While no specific platform has been singled out, Airbnb, a prominent player in the market, has been mentioned. Spain previously directed Airbnb to remove over 65,000 holiday rental listings last year. The government expects that by eliminating illegal listings, many of these properties will return to the long-term rental market, benefiting areas with high demand.
Despite potential benefits, tourism expert Zoe Adjey warns that this transition could result in fewer accommodation choices and increased prices for holidaymakers. She emphasizes that strict enforcement in popular tourist destinations like Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, and Malaga will lead to unlicensed properties disappearing from platforms, with remaining listings facing stricter regulations.
For those who have booked Airbnb accommodations in Spain, it is crucial to act promptly. Zoe advises contacting hosts immediately to confirm compliance status and conducting necessary checks. Both Airbnb and Booking.com have been contacted for comment on the situation.
