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SearchThe Ministry of Consumption has required two digital platforms to immediately remove 8,318 listings that violate the new minimum 31-day duration for seasonal rentals. The violations are concentrated in Madrid and could lead to sanction proceedings if not corrected.
The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda has demanded that two digital platforms immediately remove 8,318 listings for tourist accommodations. The Directorate-General for Consumption has determined that these offers violate the Urban Leasing Law, recently amended by Royal Decree-Law 29/2026, approved on October 6 in the Council of Ministers.
The key to the violation lies in the length of the stay. The new regulation establishes a minimum of 31 days for seasonal rental contracts. However, the detected ads promote tourist homes allowing bookings for periods shorter than this legal threshold. This practice is considered unfair communication by misleading, which constitutes an infringement of Article 47 of the Consolidated Text of the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users (TRLGDCU).
The analysis by the Directorate-General for Consumption reveals a high concentration of these irregularities in a specific area. Of the 8,318 listings required to be removed, 6,772 correspond to the Community of Madrid. Within this figure, 6,523 listings are located specifically in the city of Madrid.
Minister Pablo Bustinduy has pointed out that almost 80% of the illicit ads are in the capital. In this context, he has again called on the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, to fulfill his responsibility and close down illegal tourist flats. The minister recalled that a year ago his department sent the City Council a list with more than 15,000 illegal tourist homes for closure, without, according to his words, the municipal government having acted.
The Ministry has used the notification mechanisms provided in the Digital Services Regulation to require the removal of the ads. Once formally informed, these platforms assume direct responsibility for the potential illicit communications, in accordance with European regulations.
In case of not removing the ads or blocking access to them, the platforms could face the opening of a sanction proceeding by Consumption. The minister has expressed his hope for "total collaboration" from the platforms and a "prompt reaction" so that the ads disappear immediately.
This action is part of a series of measures undertaken by the Ministry to put an end to illegal practices in housing matters. Previously, Consumption sanctioned the platform Airbnb with 64 million euros for offering thousands of tourist accommodations that violated the regulations, which resulted in the removal of more than 65,000 listings on that portal.
Additionally, Booking removed more than 4,000 listings that did not comply with the law after an official requirement. In the real estate sector, the Ministry imposed a sanction of 3.6 million euros on Alquiler Seguro for abusive practices against tenants, identifying six very serious infringements and one serious one for violating consumer rights and exploiting its position of market dominance. Currently, Consumption has an open proceeding against another major real estate company for similar practices.
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