Spanish Ultimatum: Airbnb Evicted with Castilian Hospitality

Spain has decided that a tourist’s movable property should not threaten the immovable comfort of its citizens. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs calculated: if the country’s not only harvesting more olives but also seeing rising rents, it’s time to reduce the crop of short-term rentals—so 65,935 Airbnb listings have been sent into a virtual siesta.

The authorities cite flagrant violations: in some cases, there’s no license; in others, the owner doesn’t even know if they’re an individual or an S.L. on paper; and sometimes the apartment is on Airbnb, but officially it might even be in Portugal. Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy metaphorically slammed the door: “Enough of hiding behind business to trade in the right to housing!”—and at the same time took down 5,800 listings at once, promising removals would continue in batches until everything is counted.

They also reminded everyone that Spain is not only the home of paella, but also of mass protests against the “touristification” of cities. In recent years, Madrid and Barcelona have become not just magnets for tourists, but a real hell for ordinary renters, who can now only afford a night on Catalonia Square with a view of someone else’s suitcase life.

Airbnb, of course, responded as a true defender of the family budget: claiming there’s no proof of violations, courts rule otherwise, and the real problem is a lack of new housing, not an excess of listings. “The decision won’t bring apartments back to the market—it will just harm local families,” the company insists, citing the finest legal wine in Europe.

However, the Spanish government, with the logic of “better to lose a tourist than a resident,” is pressing on. Catalonia, not waiting for the beaches to be overrun with suitcases, has decided to eliminate all 10,000 tourist apartments by 2028. Soon, Barcelona residents may be taking photos in front of signs reading, “Tourist rentals used to be here.”

While Airbnb prepares yet another appeal and tourists get their selfie sticks ready, Spanish authorities are proving: if you’re going to fight a crisis, do it on a grand scale, with flair and a touch of drama. But the real drama is just beginning: vacation season is ahead, and the lines for regular apartments may soon be longer than those at the Sagrada Familia.