Holiday rental crackdown: Spain orders removal of 8,318 listings Spain's Consumer Affairs Ministry has ordered two platforms to remove 8,318 listings advertised as seasonal but bookable for under 31 days, under Royal Decree-Law 29/2026. Holiday rental crackdown: Spain orders removal of 8,318 listings Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs has ordered two major holiday rental platforms to withdraw 8,318 listings that were advertised as seasonal accommodation but could in practice be booked for less than 31 days. The move is the first visible result of Royal Decree-Law 29/2026, approved by the Spanish Cabinet on 6 October, which tightens the rules on short-term tourist lets and gives authorities clearer powers to act against listings that breach housing and consumer rules. According to the ministry, the affected adverts were presented as long-stay or seasonal rentals, a category that escapes some tourist-let obligations, while actually allowing short bookings. Consumer Affairs argues this misleads users and distorts the housing market in the most pressured areas. Why the Costa del Sol is watching closely The province of Malaga is one of the most exposed markets in Spain to the short-term rental debate. Marbella, Fuengirola and Mijas are among the municipalities that have tightened local rules on holiday lets in recent months, and the region combines high tourist demand with a tight long-term rental supply. The ministry's action does not ban holiday rentals. What it targets is the mismatch between what an advert claims to be and what it actually offers. That distinction matters for the thousands of owners on the coast who rent out apartments legitimately. What owners should check 1. Make sure the listing category matches what the property really offers, and that the minimum stay stated in the advert is the real one. 2. Keep the tourist licence and the registration number visible and up to date. 3. Review the advert text for seasonal wording that no longer reflects the actual booking rules. The risks of ignoring this are concrete: removal of the listing, possible consumer-protection fines, and the loss of the booking channel for the season. What happens next The platforms now have to act on the ministry's demand. The wider decree also pushes towards a single national register of tourist accommodation, which would make it harder to operate listings that fall outside the rules. For owners and investors on the Costa del Sol, the direction of travel is clear: fewer grey areas, more paperwork, and a premium on properties that are fully compliant. Sources: Ministry of Consumer Affairs; Royal Decree-Law 29/2026; national and regional press.