Following Spain’s introduction of new laws requiring all Airbnb properties to register before they can be used for tourism, there are concerns it will spread further across Europe.
Experts say Italy could be next to target Airbnb, with the country engaged in a court battle to ban key boxes on streets in a clampdown on short-term lets.
As a result, they warn prices for holidaymakers could rise by up to 20% as thousands of properties could be pulled from the short-term rental market.
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What is Spain’s new Airbnb law?
There has been a growing number of anti-tourism protests in Spain.
Tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets in protest against rising housing and rental costs.
Spanish residents in popular destinations have organised a number of demonstrations against tourism in recent years, with banners featuring messages such as “tourists go home”.
Many say have been driven up by holiday rentals on platforms like Airbnb that have proliferated in cities like Madrid and Barcelona and many other popular tourist destinations.
@laurenandra Spain’s not staying silent this summer…🇪🇸 Locals in over 40 cities are planning protests against mass tourism. Main hotspots include: 📍 Ibiza 📍 Tenerife 📍 Mallorca (Palma) 📍 Málaga 📍 Barcelona 📍 Alicante 📍 San Sebastián 📍 Valencia Why? 🏠 Skyrocketing rent 🏖️ Overcrowded beaches 🧑🤝🧑 Loss of local culture Expect: ⛱️ Beach occupations 🚫 Blocked viewpoints ⚠️ Disruptions in tourist zones If you’re visiting Spain: Be mindful. Be respectful. Travel responsibly. #SpainTravel #AntiTourism #RespectLocals #SustainableTravel #TenerifeNews ♬ Mirándote – Rvfv
Now, a new register in Spain requires all properties used for tourism and short-term holiday rentals to have a mandatory registration code to operate legally.
Property owners in the European hotspot who are looking to rent out their home must register it in the national database and get a permit before listing.
Speaking earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “Our obligation is to prioritise use of homes over tourist use.
“There are too many Airbnbs. What’s lacking is housing.”
What does the new Airbnb law in Spain mean for Brits?
Spain is the most popular overseas destination for people in the UK, with more than 18 million visits last year.
The Spanish government has ordered Airbnb to remove almost 66,000 holiday rentals from the platform which it said had violated local rules by failing to list licence numbers, listing the wrong licence number or not specifying who the apartment’s owner was.
Airbnb is appealing against the move, and has said that while its appeal goes through the courts, no holiday rentals would be immediately taken down from the site.
Spain remains one of the most popular tourism spots for Brits (Image: Getty Images) The move could push up prices for holidaymakers by up to 20%, experts say.
Pete Mugleston, mortgage advisor and managing director at Online Mortgage Advisor, said: “Spain’s move could signal that more countries are looking to crack down on Airbnb and rental properties across Europe.
“Politics is volatile across the continent, and a smart politician could look to tap into the discontent around Airbnb for political gain. If more countries follow Spain’s lead, the high point of Airbnb could already be firmly in the past.”
Fears Airbnb laws could spread across Europe
Experts also fear the new laws implemented by Spain could be looked at by other countries.
Harry Goodliffe, director at HTG Mortgages, said Spain’s ruling could lead to a “domino effect” across the EU, adding that “Italy looks next in line”.
He said: “The combination of over-tourism and local housing pressures is pushing governments to act, and short-term lets are the obvious target.
“If Italy tightens the rules, expect thousands of listings to vanish, hitting both owner profits and tourist affordability.
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“For landlords banking on Airbnb income, this should be a loud wake-up call to diversify.
“The golden days of ‘easy Airbnb money’ are fading fast and relying solely on short-term lets is starting to look like a risky strategy.”
Kundan Bhaduri, entrepreneur at The Kushman Group, agreed that Italy may follow suit, saying that the country is “clearly next” to target Airbnb.
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He said: “In Florence, over 30% of flats are listed on Airbnb. In Rome, a staggering 35 million tourists arrived last year, occupying a huge swathe of the housing stock.
“The backlash is brewing and it is property owners that are in the stockpot. Spain’s move to demand a national registry for short-term lets is just the opening salvo.
“Italy is clearly next. France, Portugal and even the balmy Balearics have all flirted with similar measures.”