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The Spanish government has stepped up its crackdown on illegal holiday rentals, ordering online platforms such as Airbnb and Booking to remove more than 2,100 listings in the Region of Murcia that do not meet current legal requirements.

 

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, a total of 2,148 tourist and short-term rental properties in Murcia have been identified as illegal and formally notified to the platforms, which must now remove the advertisements. These homes had applied for a short-term rental registration number but were refused because they failed to comply with the rules set out under European regulations.

 

The move forms part of a much wider national operation. Across Spain, the Ministry has flagged 86,275 illegal tourist and temporary rental properties, all of which are expected to be taken off booking websites once notification has been received.

 

Since last July, all short-term rental properties have been required to hold an official registration code issued by the Property Registrars. This code is shared with platforms through the Ministry’s Digital Single Window, allowing authorities to identify listings that do not comply. Once notified, platforms are legally obliged to remove the adverts, even if the same property appears on several websites at the same time.

 

The latest figures also give a clearer picture of how Spain’s rental market is changing. Of the more than 412,000 registration applications submitted nationwide, around 78 percent relate to tourist rentals, while the remaining 22 percent are for seasonal or non-tourist lets. Madrid stands out as an exception, where most applications have been for seasonal accommodation rather than holiday use.

 

Madrid also tops the list for refused applications, with 5,344 registrations rejected, followed by Barcelona. Several well-known tourist destinations appear high on the list too, including Marbella, Seville, Valencia and Málaga, reflecting the pressure on housing in popular areas.

 

At regional level, Andalusia has recorded the highest number of revoked applications, followed by the Valencian Community and the Canary Islands.

 

In Murcia, the latest announcement builds on earlier action taken in cooperation with Airbnb, which led to hundreds of irregular listings being removed in advance. The government insists the aim is not to penalise compliant owners, but to ensure fair rules, improve transparency and protect the long-term housing market.

 

For travellers and residents alike, the message is clear. Only registered properties can legally be advertised, and further checks are expected as enforcement tightens across Spain.

 

 

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