MADRID, Spain: Spain has ordered Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday rental listings from its platform, accusing the company of violating regulations in a broader crackdown aimed at curbing what the government describes as the "illegality" of the short-term rental market.

The Consumer Rights Ministry stated that most listings lacked proper license numbers, while others failed to clarify whether the owner was an individual or a corporation. Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the government was determined to address the lack of control in the sector.

"No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country," Bustinduy told reporters, adding that Madrid's high court is supporting the withdrawal of 5,800 listings.

Airbnb said it plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the ministry lacks the authority to regulate short-term rentals and failed to provide a detailed list of non-compliant properties. The company also contended that some of the targeted listings are non-touristic seasonal rentals.

Spain's government, along with municipal and regional authorities, has increased pressure on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com amid rising complaints that holiday rentals are inflating housing costs and reducing the supply of long-term rentals for locals.

According to government data, there were approximately 321,000 homes with holiday rental licenses in Spain as of November, a 15 percent increase since 2020. Many more operate without licenses.

The crackdown comes as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pushes for higher taxes on income from holiday rentals, part of a broader strategy to tackle the country's housing crisis. Barcelona has already moved to ban tourism rentals entirely by 2028, a policy announced last year by Mayor Jaume Collboni.

Similar efforts to control short-term rentals have been implemented in other European countries, including Italy and Croatia, as cities grapple with the impact of overtourism and housing shortages.