Spain fines Airbnb €65M: Why the government is cracking down on illegal rentals

As far as I understand this is the latest shot in the conflict between Spain and its lack of affordable housing. I'd put the symbolic start around 2004-2006 [1] with the movement called "you won't have a house in your fucking life" where people all over Spain started demonstrating against high apartment prices.

I don't like AirBnB and I'm glad they got fined, but the Spanish government also needs to accept that they have been sitting around doing nothing for roughly 20 years. Looks like politicians all over will do everything in their power except actually building more apartments.

[1] https://www.leonidasmartin.net/artes/no-vas-a-tener-una-casa... (in Spanish)

Re: Spain fines Airbnb €65M: Why the government is cracking down on illegal rentals

#6

Post by blitzar » Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:24 PM UTC

Another senseless EU attack on the greatest nation on earth (/s?)

Re: Spain fines Airbnb €65M: Why the government is cracking down on illegal rentals

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Post by boblawbomb » Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:26 PM UTC

[flagged]

Re: Spain fines Airbnb €65M: Why the government is cracking down on illegal rentals

#8

Post by dazc » Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:30 PM UTC

probably_wrong wrote: post #5

As far as I understand this is the latest shot in the conflict between Spain and its lack of affordable housing. I'd put the symbolic start around 2004-2006 [1] with the movement called "you won't have a house in your fucking life" where people all over Spain started demonstrating against high apartment prices. I don't like AirBnB and I'm glad they got fined, but the Spanish government also needs to accept that they…

They don't want to upset the high number of middle-class Spaniards who have all of their money invested in airbnbs.

Re: Spain fines Airbnb €65M: Why the government is cracking down on illegal rentals

#9

Post by daedrdev » Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:30 PM UTC

The main issue with going after airbnb is that its a true bandaid fix: the gains in supply are often offset by just a few years or months progression of the underbuilding of supply

Re: Spain fines Airbnb €65M: Why the government is cracking down on illegal rentals

#10

Post by rdtsc » Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:31 PM UTC

probably_wrong wrote: post #5

As far as I understand this is the latest shot in the conflict between Spain and its lack of affordable housing. I'd put the symbolic start around 2004-2006 [1] with the movement called "you won't have a house in your fucking life" where people all over Spain started demonstrating against high apartment prices. I don't like AirBnB and I'm glad they got fined, but the Spanish government also needs to accept that they…

> I don't like AirBnB and I'm glad they got fined, but the Spanish government also needs to accept that they have been sitting around doing nothing for roughly 20 years. Looks like politicians all over will do everything in their power except actually building more apartments.

I am totally unfamiliar with Spain, but wondering what would government have to do to improve the situation? They wouldn’t build government owned and operated houses? Or is it that they do not issue permits for builders, or tax incentives are all wrong?