Airbnb Cracks Down on Unregistered Rentals in Spain

Airbnb to Remove Unregistered Holiday Rentals in Spain

Airbnb has announced that it will begin removing holiday rental properties in Spain that do not have a valid national registration number. This decision comes after a new agreement between Airbnb and the Spanish Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, and it includes listings in popular destinations like the Canary Islands, the south of Tenerife, and Costa Adeje.

At a recent meeting, Airbnb confirmed it will now provide the Spanish government with monthly updates listing all the properties being offered through its platform. This new measure is designed to support Spain’s updated rules for short-term holiday rentals, helping to ensure that every listing meets the legal standards.

Spain Leads the EU with Centralized Registration Rules

Spain is the first country in the European Union to introduce these rules through a new centralized system called the Digital One-Stop Shop. The goal is to fight against illegal rentals and reduce their impact on the local housing market. According to the Ministry, unregulated holiday lets have made it harder for local residents to find affordable housing, especially in tourist hotspots like Tenerife.

Starting in August 2025, Airbnb will send regular reports to the Ministry that include both national and regional registration numbers for every property listed on its site. If a host does not provide this information, their listing will be removed.

Hosts Will Be Notified Before Removal

As part of the agreement, Airbnb will notify hosts of any problems with their property listing. They will be given time to fix the issue. However, if the government finds that a registration number is invalid or has been taken away, the property will be removed from Airbnb within 48 hours.

This change could affect a number of Tenerife rentals, especially in areas with high tourist demand like Costa Adeje and the south of Tenerife. Visitors looking for Tenerife properties for their next trip are encouraged to check whether the home or apartment they are booking is properly registered.

A Move Toward Safer and More Transparent Stays

By working more closely with authorities, Airbnb aims to make holiday stays safer and more transparent for both guests and hosts. These new rules are expected to bring more fairness to the holiday rentals market while protecting long-term housing for local communities.