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Spain’s rental reform targets listings like this loft—stylish, short-term, and often unlicensed. Credit: Bulgac via Getty Images Signature on Canva.com
Booking.com has been ordered by Spain to remove more than 4,000 short-term rental properties. On the surface, it’s a platform update — but beneath that, it reflects something deeper. This is part of an effort to reduce the housing pressure on cities that are overrun by tourists. It could mean that travellers have fewer choices or more restrictions when booking.
You might have noticed some changes in places like the Canary Islands and Barcelona. Some listings are removed, while others have stricter requirements. What’s the reason? And how could it affect where — or how — you stay this summer?
Booking.com forced to remove Spain-based rentals
This will be the most visible strike in Spain on June 27, 2025. Booking.com has confirmed it removed 4,093 listings after a direct request from Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
- Why? Advertisements for short-term rental properties without valid registration numbers were placed.
- The Spanish housing regulations now require them because they technically operate outside of the law.
The crackdown on holiday rentals is part of an effort to control the tourist industry. Spanish officials warn that unregulated rentals are fueling housing crises in tourist areas, by increasing local rents and reducing the number of available homes for local residents.
- “No platform, no mater how large, can operate without Spanish law,” stated a spokesperson from the ministry.
Although the number of listings affected represents a small share of Booking.com’s Spanish inventory — less than 2%, according to the company — the move sends a clear signal: compliance is no longer optional.
What travellers should know about the new travel legislation
Some listings will have disappeared if you are planning a summer trip. The removal of listings will not cancel any existing bookings, but it may affect your options. This is especially true in areas like the Canary Islands or parts of Andalusia where there’s a high level tourism pressure.
Online short-term rental listings must include my government’s verified registration number. Platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com and others must now verify this number prior to publishing a listing. What it means to you
- Fewer listings In popular areas, particularly beachfront zones and historic centres.
- Price changesAs remaining licensed rentals could face higher demand.
- More transparencyInformation about the legal status of a property will be more clear.
It’s unlikely that you will be penalised for being a tourist. However, it is best to use major booking platforms that check rental licenses. Also, double-check your accommodation’s registration number.
Why Spain is strict on rental properties
Booking.com’s latest removals are part of a wider conflict between mass tourism, and local housing.
In the past decade, cities such as Barcelona and Madrid as well as island destinations like Tenerife or Mallorca have seen a rapid increase in short-term rentals. Locals in some places say it is nearly impossible to afford long-term housing, while buildings are filled instead with holiday rentals.
Spanish legislators argue that unregulated rental properties distort the property market.
- Fewer homes Residents can take advantage of a variety of services
- Prices rise In neighbourhoods inundated by tourism
- Speculators profitWhile locals are forced out
Spain responded by introducing a National Registry of Holiday Homes and collaborating with local authorities to penalise websites that host illegal listings.
Airbnb already removed tens thousands of listings this year following pushback from local government and tenant groups. Now, Booking.com is facing the same pressure — caught between compliance demands and a political mood that’s turned sharply toward housing protection.
Platforms, which once operated in grey legal areas, are now forced to behave like regulated housing service. It means:
- All listings are pre-vetted Valid licence numbers
- Synchronisation with local registry Real time
- Facing penalties If unauthorised properties slip in
Are you planning to visit Spain this summer?
Are you planning to visit Spain in the summer? The landscape has changed if your trip will take you to high-demand locations like Barcelona, Madrid, and the islands. It may not be dramatic — but some things are already changing.
- Fewer last-minute optionsIn particular, coastal or historic districts
- The number of listings that are marked with the licence number, or clearer booking disclaimers
- Prices are rising Certain areas are subject to tighter rules on supply contracts
What Spain is trying to do isn’t about pushing tourists away — it’s about creating a system that actually works. Legal rentals, clearer pricing, and a better sense of what’s allowed and what isn’t — all of that helps travellers too.
