This decision is part of a broad offensive launched by the government, municipalities, and regions against tourist rentals via platforms such as Airbnb and Booking, which many Spaniards accuse of promoting overtourism, reducing the supply of available housing, and making rents unaffordable for residents.

Most of the ads targeted did not include a license number, the ministry said. Others did not clearly state whether the accommodation was being offered by a private individual or a company.

The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pablo Bustinduy, denounced the "general lack of control" and "illegality" prevailing in the sector. He said he wanted to restore order, protect consumer rights and facilitate access to housing.

Last June, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni took the most radical step to date by announcing a total ban on tourist rentals by 2028. The Airbnb issue is particularly thorny for investors. The company that revolutionized tourist accommodation is struggling to reap the rewards. Maturity has brought with it a certain disaffection with the market, which is cruelly evident in its stockmarket performance over the last five years:

 

MarketScreener readers who want to delve deeper into the subject to determine whether Airbnb is still an investable company will find quality material in this recent article from Wired, which deals precisely with the crisis the group is currently going through.