{"id":254065,"date":"2025-07-10T17:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T17:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/254065\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T17:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T17:44:11","slug":"uk-holidaymakers-warning-after-new-airbnb-law-in-spain-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/254065\/","title":{"rendered":"UK holidaymakers warning after new Airbnb law in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n 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.\n<\/p>\n

\n 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.\n<\/p>\n

\n 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.\n<\/p>\n

What happens if you miss your flight due to airport delays?<\/p>\n

What is Spain’s new Airbnb law?<\/p>\n

\n There has been a growing number of anti-tourism\u00a0protests<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Spain.\n<\/p>\n

\n Tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets in protest against rising housing and rental costs.\n<\/p>\n

\n Spanish residents in popular destinations have organised a number of demonstrations against tourism in recent years, with banners featuring messages such as \u201ctourists\u00a0go home\u201d.\n<\/p>\n

\n 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.\n<\/p>\n

\n @laurenandra<\/a> Spain\u2019s not staying silent this summer\u2026\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 Locals in over 40 cities are planning protests against mass tourism. Main hotspots include: \ud83d\udccd Ibiza \ud83d\udccd Tenerife \ud83d\udccd Mallorca (Palma) \ud83d\udccd M\u00e1laga \ud83d\udccd Barcelona \ud83d\udccd Alicante \ud83d\udccd San Sebasti\u00e1n \ud83d\udccd Valencia Why? \ud83c\udfe0 Skyrocketing rent \ud83c\udfd6\ufe0f Overcrowded beaches \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83e\udd1d\u200d\ud83e\uddd1 Loss of local culture Expect: \u26f1\ufe0f Beach occupations \ud83d\udeab Blocked viewpoints \u26a0\ufe0f Disruptions in tourist zones If you\u2019re visiting Spain: Be mindful. Be respectful. Travel responsibly. #SpainTravel<\/a> #AntiTourism<\/a> #RespectLocals<\/a> #SustainableTravel<\/a> #TenerifeNews<\/a> \u266c Mir\u00e1ndote – Rvfv<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n Now, a new register in Spain\u00a0requires all properties used for tourism and short-term holiday rentals to have a mandatory registration code to operate legally.\n<\/p>\n

\n 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.\n<\/p>\n

\n Speaking earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said:\u00a0\u201cOur obligation is to prioritise use of homes over tourist use.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cThere are too many Airbnbs. What\u2019s lacking is housing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

What does the new Airbnb law in Spain mean for Brits?<\/p>\n

\n Spain\u00a0is the most popular overseas destination for people in the UK, with more than 18 million visits last year.\n<\/p>\n

\n 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\u2019s owner was.\n<\/p>\n

\n Airbnb is appealing against the move,\u00a0and has said that while its appeal goes through the courts, no holiday rentals would be immediately taken down from the site.\n<\/p>\n

\n \"SpainSpain 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.\n<\/p>\n

\n Pete Mugleston, mortgage<\/a> advisor and managing director at Online Mortgage Advisor<\/a>, said: “Spain’s move could signal that more countries are looking to crack down on Airbnb and rental properties across Europe.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n “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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Fears Airbnb laws could spread across Europe<\/p>\n

\n Experts also fear the new laws implemented by Spain could be looked at by other countries.\n<\/p>\n

\n Harry Goodliffe, director at\u00a0HTG Mortgages<\/a>, said Spain’s ruling could lead to a \u201cdomino effect\u201d across the EU, adding that “Italy looks next in line”.\n<\/p>\n

\n He said: “The combination of over-tourism and local housing pressures is pushing governments to act, and short-term lets are the obvious target.\n<\/p>\n

\n “If Italy tightens the rules, expect thousands of listings to vanish, hitting both owner profits and tourist affordability.\n<\/p>\n

Do I Need Travel Insurance?<\/p>\n

\n “For landlords banking on Airbnb income, this should be a loud wake-up call to diversify.\n<\/p>\n

\n “The golden days of \u2018easy Airbnb money\u2019 are fading fast and relying solely on short-term lets is starting to look like a risky strategy.”\n<\/p>\n

\n Kundan Bhaduri, entrepreneur at\u00a0The Kushman Group<\/a>, agreed that Italy may follow suit, saying that the country is “clearly next” to target Airbnb.\n<\/p>\n

\n Recommended reading:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n He said: “In Florence, over 30%\u00a0of flats are listed on Airbnb. In Rome, a staggering 35 million tourists arrived last year, occupying a huge swathe of the housing stock.\n<\/p>\n

\n “The backlash is brewing and it is property owners that are in the stockpot. Spain\u2019s move to demand a national registry for short-term lets is just the opening salvo.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Italy is clearly next. France, Portugal and even the balmy Balearics have all flirted with similar measures.”\n<\/p>\n