Airbnb has suffered another setback in Spain. The High Court of Justice of Madrid (TSJM) rejected the company’s request to suspend payment of a €64 million fine imposed by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs for illegal holiday rentals and misleading advertisements. The platform must pay the penalty while its appeal continues.
The fine was issued for listing unlicensed properties, using false registration numbers, and failing to provide accurate host information. Spain's government claims the penalty equals six times the illegal profit generated from these practices. Other European countries, including France, Italy, and Portugal, have also tightened regulations on short-term rentals.