Quick answer: Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs ordered two platforms to remove 8,318 advertisements for short-term rentals violating Royal Decree-Law 29/2026, adopted October 6, 2026. The rule requires a 31-day minimum booking period for seasonal rentals. The action applies to any host advertising tourist dwellings with stays under 31 days.
Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Spain (primarily Community of Madrid and city of Madrid) |
| What changed | Royal Decree-Law 29/2026 sets a 31-day minimum duration for seasonal rentals; advertising tourist dwellings with bookings under 31 days is now prohibited |
| Who it affects | Hosts advertising tourist accommodations as seasonal rentals with stays shorter than 31 days on rental platforms |
| Status | Adopted and in force |
| Effective date | October 6, 2026 |
| Penalties | Platform removal of advertisements; platforms may face investigation and potential fines; violations considered deceptive unfair commercial practices under article 47 of the Consolidated Text of the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users |
| Governing body | Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda; Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs |
What Changed
Spain's Royal Decree-Law 29/2026, approved October 6, 2026, modified the Urban Leases Law to set a 31-day minimum duration for seasonal rentals. According to lavozdelanzarote.com, the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, headed by Pablo Bustinduy, identified 8,318 advertisements violating this rule and demanded their removal from two platforms in late October 2026.
The violations involved advertising tourist dwellings as seasonal accommodations while permitting bookings under 31 days. The ministry classified these advertisements as illicit under the new regulation.
Who Is Affected
Hosts advertising tourist accommodations with stays shorter than 31 days face removal of their listings. The enforcement action targeted advertisements on rental platforms, with 6,772 of the 8,318 violations identified in the Community of Madrid, and 6,523 of those in the city of Madrid alone.
Platform operators are also directly responsible: according to the article, platforms that fail to remove non-compliant advertisements or block their access could face investigation by Consumer Affairs and potential fines.
What Hosts Should Do Now
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Review your active listings on rental platforms to confirm all bookings respect the 31-day minimum duration for seasonal rentals.
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Update your calendar and booking settings to prevent reservations under 31 days if you are offering a property as a seasonal rental.
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Check your advertisement text to ensure you are not marketing tourist dwellings with stays under 31 days, which violates article 47 of consumer protection law.
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Monitor platform notifications for any requests from Consumer Affairs or your platform regarding non-compliant listings.
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Consult local regulations to understand which rental category applies to your property (tourist rental, seasonal rental, or long-term lease) and comply with its terms.
The Bigger Picture
The enforcement action is part of a broader government effort to address Spain's housing crisis. According to lavozdelanzarote.com, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs previously fined Airbnb 64 million euros for offering non-compliant tourist accommodations, resulting in the removal of over 65,000 listings. Booking removed more than 4,000 listings after a similar official request.
The ministry has also pursued enforcement against real estate companies. It imposed a 3.6 million euro fine on Alquiler Seguro for abusive practices against tenants and maintains an open investigation into another large real estate company for similar violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 31-day minimum rule for seasonal rentals in Spain?
Royal Decree-Law 29/2026, effective October 6, 2026, requires seasonal rentals to have a minimum booking duration of 31 days. Advertising tourist dwellings with stays shorter than 31 days is now prohibited and considered a deceptive commercial practice under Spanish consumer law.
Can I rent my apartment for less than 31 days in Spain now?
If you are advertising your property as a seasonal rental under Royal Decree-Law 29/2026, no. The minimum duration is 31 days. Short-term rentals under 31 days may fall under different categories (tourist rental) with separate rules, but advertising them as seasonal rentals violates the law.
What happens if my listing violates the 31-day minimum rule?
Your listing may be removed by the rental platform. Platforms that do not remove non-compliant advertisements face investigation by Spain's Consumer Affairs ministry and potential fines. Violations are classified as deceptive unfair commercial practices.
Which cities in Spain are affected by the 31-day minimum rule?
The rule applies nationwide across Spain. Enforcement has so far focused on Madrid, where the majority of the 8,318 flagged violations were identified, but Royal Decree-Law 29/2026 applies to all seasonal rentals throughout the country.
Sources
- Consumption demands from two platforms the withdrawal of 8,300 advertisements for tourist accommodations, lavozdelanzarote.com
- Official source
Check the current rules for your area in the LawfulStay directory.