Airbnb, short-term rental platform, has been punished in Spain a fine of EUR million for illegal offers. The Ministry of Consumer Protection imposed a punishment of about EUR 64 million. According to the ruling, many apartments offered on the platform should not be rented to tourists. Airbnb must "remove identified deficiencies and remove illegal content," the Ministry stated.
The punishment is equal to six times the profit from illegal offers, said the Minister of Consumer Protection on Monday Pablo Bustinduy. This is the second highest punishment always imposed by his ministry for violating consumer rights. "Thousands of families are surviving in precarious conditions due to housing crisis, and fewer are rich thanks to business models that force people to decision out," Bustinduy said.
That decision can be appealed. Airbnb has not yet issued a message on the matter. Airbnb is accused of contributing to housing shortages, especially in cities specified as Barcelona and Valencia, as owners are more profitable in renting apartments to tourists than locals.
