Spain targets Airbnb in illegal ads probe [Video]

Spain’s leftist government on Wednesday opened an investigation into holiday rental platform Airbnb for allegedly failing to take down adverts for thousands of apartments without a tourist licence.

Mass tourism is a hot topic in Spain, the world’s second most-visited country, as foreign visitors fill the coffers of businesses but fuel local anger about unaffordable housing.

The consumer rights authority is investigating a “tourist apartment rental platform” after previous warnings about the adverts went unheeded for several months, the government said in a statement without naming Airbnb.

A source close to the investigation and the California-based company told AFP the probe targeted Airbnb.

The social rights and consumer ministry said the failure to comply was punishable by fines of up to 100,000 euros ($104,000) or “four to six times the illicit profit made”.

Airbnb said it would appeal against the investigation and “always asks hosts to confirm they have the …