Since April 9, Airbnb has removed around 10,000 short-term rental listings in the Canary Islands that were considered irregular or had failed to complete the required registration process. At the same time, the number of fully registered listings has grown by more than 45% between January 1 and August 31, showing the impact of stricter rules and enforcement.
A Collaboration for Compliance
This outcome stems from an agreement signed in April between Airbnb and the Canary Islands Government, aimed at bringing the platform’s activity into line with regional regulations.
- Airbnb has contacted all hosts in the region to remind them of the legal obligation to register their properties.
- The platform has provided guidance, regular notifications, reminders, and additional resources to help hosts comply with the new rules.
Airbnb’s Perspective
Sara Rodríguez, Director of Public Policy for Spain and Portugal at Airbnb Marketing Services, described the development as:
“A new chapter for Airbnb in the Canary Islands, defined by a proactive commitment to collaboration, quality, and a long-term vision of sustainable growth.”
She stressed that listings complying with registration requirements are already those most preferred by travelers, meaning that:
- The new regulations have not had a major commercial impact on Airbnb.
- They have allowed the platform to support local compliance efforts and strengthen its long-term presence in the region.
Canary Islands Government Response
The regional Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León, welcomed the results of the agreement. She pointed out that:
“What made headlines in the press a year ago, such as tents on rooftops, mini-campsites in commercial premises, and camper vans, is no longer present on Airbnb thanks to this collaboration agreement signed last April.”
According to de León, the removal of these irregular listings is an important step toward regulating the sector and addressing long-standing complaints from local communities.
Looking Ahead
Airbnb confirmed its commitment to:
- Continue increasing the proportion of registered listings in the Canary Islands.
- Keep educating hosts about regional requirements.
- Share regular progress updates with authorities and the public.
