The Spanish government announced on Wednesday (3) a crackdown on seasonal and short-term apartment rentals, amid growing anger from local residents who feel left out of the property market.
The government will investigate properties on platforms such as Airbnb ABNB.O and Booking.com BKNG.O to check whether they have licenses, Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said.
“If a house does not have a tourism license, advertising it on internet platforms should be illegal and therefore punishable,” Bustinduy said in an interview with state broadcaster TVE.
Spain is struggling to find a balance between sustaining tourism, a key driver of its economy, and addressing the concerns of locals who can no longer afford to rent due to gentrification and landlords moving to more lucrative tourist rentals.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni cited a 68% increase in rental prices over the past decade as one reason for his recently announced plan to phase out all short-term rentals in the city by 2028.
Apartur, the association of owners of tourist apartments, said the measure amounted to expropriation while the Spanish Constitutional Court deliberates whether the measure is legal.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced earlier this week that the government would create a register of holiday rental properties in a bid to limit the number of listings.
Residents of Barcelona, the Canary Islands and Malaga have staged protests against rising tourist rents in recent weeks. In these tourist hotspots, seasonal hotel workers are struggling to find accommodation, with many resorting to sleeping in caravans or even their cars.
Airbnb and Booking.com did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The government is also looking at taking steps to reduce medium-term rents from one to 11 months and could give neighbors of apartment blocks a chance to have a say in whether a landlord can list their properties on platforms, Housing Minister Isabel Rodriguez said late on Tuesday.
“We have to preserve social rights, like the right to housing,” Rodriguez told radio station Cadena SER.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
