The city of Barcelona, one of the epicentres of the debate on the regulation of the Flexible Accommodation, has stepped up its offensive against illegal supply. In one of the biggest actions of its kind to date, Airbnb has proceeded to the removal of 2,479 advertisements at the request of the City Council, marking a milestone in the collaboration between the administration and the platform.
These advertisements corresponded to dwellings which, according to municipal inspections, were operating as tourist accommodation without the required licence or in breach of current regulations. The action is part of the city council's strategy of «zero tolerance» The aim is not only to guarantee legality, but also to mitigate the impact of tourism on the residential market and neighbourhood coexistence.
This massive removal of ads is the result of coordinated work. The City Council, through its inspection teams, identifies the properties that are operating irregularly and subsequently requires the platforms to remove them immediately. Airbnb's collaboration in this process is fundamental to the effectiveness of the measure, as it prevents these properties from continuing to be accessible to the public.
This move comes at a time of heightened regulatory tension in Barcelona, with the municipal plan to eliminate all tourist flat licences by November 2028. The removal of these almost 2,500 ads is a further step in that direction, focused on eradicating the supply side that already operates outside the law.
The fight against Flexible Accommodation illegal is a priority for the City Council, which seeks to rebalance the city's tourism model, protect the right to housing and ensure that economic activity takes place within a framework of legality and transparency. This coordinated action with Airbnb is a clear sign that the pressure on unregulated supply will continue to intensify in the coming months.
