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

Post by 6510 » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 12:02 PM UTC

QGQBGdeZREunxLe wrote: post #123

MisterTea wrote: post #55

I was in Spain this past summer and it certainly seems they are experiencing tourist burnout. I saw anti tourist messages on banners hung on buildings, graffiti, posters and stickers in Madrid and Barcelona. Some of it was a bit threatening but I had zero issues. The issue of airbnb is a sticky one. On one hand, being able to temporarily live in an apartment greatly enhances the immersiveness when your travel - you g…

I’ve always thought a solution would be to allow Airbnb but cap the amount you can earn per property to the equivalent of an average annual rent. This wouldn’t outright ban short-term rentals, but it would reduce the largest financial incentive. I say this selfishly, as someone who wants to use the platform while still occupying my own place. Something that offering it as a full-time rental doesn’t allow.

Post by lotsofpulp » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 2:05 PM UTC

dzhiurgis wrote: post #125

QGQBGdeZREunxLe wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can definitely find household named economists that don't agree with Land Value Taxes. Hell there's a grassroots push in the US to eliminate property taxes.

I do like Georgism, but taxing wealth and not a transaction is just going to transfer wealth from poor to government. Similarly how capital gains tax has 0 effect on billionaires and just rip off investors (aka the poorest).

Post by subpixel » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 2:51 PM UTC

dariosalvi78 wrote: post #98

subpixel wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See my other comment. When 30% of the housing stock is short-term rentals that families cannot buy, it doesn't matter at all who owns them. Where I live, they are all owned by locals, but that doesn't remediate any of the issues short-term rentals cause.

Local, middle class owners can own how many empty flats? 1%? 10%? Of course I don't have a number, but I'd bet that if you remove the mega-owners, that 30% would drop significantly. Airbnb was not a bad idea, but it has been perverted. It's time to regulate it and probably break it too.

Post by QGQBGdeZREunxLe » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 9:44 PM UTC

givemeethekeys wrote: post #134

QGQBGdeZREunxLe wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since Spain is in Schengen they won't be able to easily block tourists getting visas. Plus the visa waiver programs are usually reciprocal. Best way to reduce tourism is to levy taxes on tourist activities.

That's a good point. I believe Jordan charges foreigners a much higher rate for to see tourist attractions. But, visitors don't usually stay in Jordan for more than a couple of weeks. I think if a country let's someone in only for them to find out that they're not welcome there - they're probably not going back again. It's better to know that a place is very expensive to visit up front, or - like Bhutan - there are v…

Post by rkomorn » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 10:02 AM UTC

johndoh42 wrote: post #158

... because the government is in the pocket of the big hotel chains, which are ruining the country. Airbnb: World travelers who try to blend in. Hotel: Drunk Brits who puke all over the place. We have 3 Airbnb flats in our house for 2 years now. Never had an issue with any of the renters; But, the lights in the stairwell are working now, the door locks work, electricity is stable, and I haven't seen a cockroach in a…