Spain tells Airbnb to delete 66,000 rental listings

The Spanish government on Monday ordered Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 listings from its platform, widening a crackdown on tourist rentals as it seeks to alleviate a housing crisis that has become among the worst in Europe.

- LIZ ALDERMAN

The government said the listings were in violation of rules because they either lacked licenses, had fake license numbers or failed to reveal whether the property was run by a corporation or an individual.

Airbnb said in a statement that it would continue to appeal all decisions linked to the case. A spokesperson said the company would keep the listings up until the appeal made its way through the courts.

Housing affordability has become a critical social and political issue in Spain, where mass demonstrations have been held across the country by people who say the proliferation of real estate investors and the conversion of lodging into tourist accommodations have pushed families from their homes. The scarcity has helped drive up prices much faster than wages, putting affordable housing out of reach for many.