Brits planning Spanish getaways should verify their accommodation reservations as tens of thousands of unlawful holiday rentals face closure orders.
Spain’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda has informed online platforms about 86,275 illegal tourist and short-term rental properties, demanding their immediate delisting. Platforms hosting these properties – which may feature across multiple websites – must now eliminate them from their sites.
The directive arrives six months following the launch of the unified registry for short-term rentals. Andalucía, encompassing Sevilla, Málaga, and Granada, leads the violations with 21,872 removals, whilst the Comunitat Valenciana follows with 14,387.
The Canary Islands rank third, requiring 13,726 properties to be withdrawn due to operating without proper tourist or temporary rental permits.
Have you been affected by the holiday let crackdown? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
This poses significant concerns for British holidaymakers, given that approximately six million of the archipelago’s 16 million annual visitors hail from the UK. Barcelona also harbours 5,000 holiday rentals lacking appropriate documentation.
Whilst no specific holiday rental platform has been targeted by the government department, Airbnb dominates the marketplace.
Last May, Spain commanded Airbnb to withdraw over 65,000 holiday rental listings, according to Reuters reporting at the time.
Through eliminating thousands of illegal listings, the government anticipates many properties will revert to t the long-term rental market, easing pressure in high-demand areas. Spain became the first EU nation to implement the EU regulations that required its establishment, the government highlighted.
Travel specialist Zoe Adjey has cautioned that this development could lead to fewer accommodation choices and inflated costs for holidaymakers.
“The impact will be most severe in tourism hotspots like Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, and Malaga, where enforcement is strictest,” Zoe, a senior lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality at UEL, said. “Many unlicensed properties will disappear from platforms, while remaining listings will face stricter regulations and registration requirements. British tourists, who makeup one of Spain’s largest visitor groups, will need to adapt to this new, more regulated market.”
If you’ve secured an Airbnb booking in Spain for this year, swift action is essential Zoe advises contacting your host ‘immediately’ to verify their proper compliance status, before conducting these crucial checks:
- Review your cancellation policy and know your refund rights. Book alternative accommodation early if you’re uncertain.
- Try less popular areas if you’re struggling to find accommodation in your original destination.
- Request to see the property’s official registration or licence number.
- Consider travel insurance for future trips that cover accommodation cancellations.
- Keep an eye on the Airbnb app and your phone as some changes could happen very fast.
Airbnb and Booking.com have been contacted for comment.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
