Barcelona cracks down on home-rental sites

Barcelona city hall announces a 20-fold hike, to 600,000 euros (US$660,000), in the maximum fine that can be levied against home-rental sites such as Airbnb if they promote illegal accommodation.
Under a 2012 regional law, any apartment rented to visitors in Catalonia must be logged in the province’s Tourism Registry and have a permit, Agence France-Presse reported.

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In December last year, Barcelona authorities slapped Airbnb and its rival HomeAway with a fine of 30,000 euros, then the maximum, for offering for rent homes which lacked the permit.
This maximum will be increased to 600,000 euros under the decision.

Barcelona, one of Europe’s most popular destinations for short-term holidays, has been massively affected by the rise of home-sharing sites. Their popularity has caused the private vacation rental market to surge – and many local people are unhappy as a result, according to the AFP report.

They complain of rising real-estate prices as family accommodation is snapped up for business use, and late-night noise and partying in neighbourhoods favoured by tourists.

Urban planning councillor Janet Sanz said the rise in the maximum fine came after the two sites continued to advertise holiday apartments that did not have permits.

“This illegal offer has a very hard impact on our neighbourhoods, it raises rental prices, fuels the underground economy and generates conflicts between neighbours,” she told a news conference.