Illegal tourist rental regulation in Spain

In Alcalá de Henares, the political group Más Madrid released a report identifying 280 tourist accommodations that do not comply with regional regulations. The report noted a 53% increase in this sector between 2023 and 2026, highlighting that 72.2% of these properties are managed by professional operators. Spokesperson Rosa Romero criticized the housing landscape, stating that for every residential rental listing on Idealista, there are more than four tourist listings on Airbnb.

Following these local concerns, Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and 2030 Agenda ordered two digital platforms to remove 8,318 fraudulent advertisements for tourist accommodations. These listings were identified as illegal for being marketed as seasonal rentals while allowing reservations for fewer than 31 days, violating the Urban Leasing Law. The majority of these non-compliant listings, totaling 6,772, are located in the Community of Madrid, with 6,523 specifically within the city of Madrid.

The Directorate General for Consumer Affairs has classified these advertisements as potentially deceptive and unfair commercial practices. Under European Digital Services regulations, the platforms will assume direct responsibility for these listings once notified; failure to remove or block access could result in formal proceedings. This enforcement follows a previous 64 million euro fine against Airbnb for similar regulatory non-compliance.