Spain warns against housing ‘free for all' over Airbnb threat

The Spanish government has ordered Airbnb to remove almost 66,000 holiday rentals from its platform for violating local regulations, including failing to list license numbers or specifying the apartment's owner.
Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said that Spain 's economy and housing market are not a 'free for all' and that there is a correlation between the rise of short-term rentals like Airbnb and increasing housing costs.
A recent Bank of Spain report indicated a shortfall of 450,000 homes in the country.
Barcelona announced plans last year to close all 10,000 apartments licensed as short-term rentals by 2028 to protect housing for full-time residents.
Airbnb is appealing the decision to remove the 66,000 homes, asserting it connects property owners with renters but doesn't have oversight obligations.

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Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Family blast 'jealous' neighbours who reported them to council over 'monstrosity' extension...but their new plans could make locals even angrier

A family has hit back at their 'jealous' neighbours who complained to the council about their 'monstrosity' extension that was built without planning permission. Homeowner Aysha Khanom was made to pay £2,000 after a retrospective planning request for a large porch at the semi-detached property she shares with her family in a desirable area of Oldham was rejected. Neighbours claimed the porch, which featured two 2.4metre high columns and a tiled roof, was 'more in keeping with the Roman pillars of [giant shopping complex] the Trafford Centre', a 'hotel' or a 'mosque'. Other comments in objections lodged with Oldham council claimed it 'sticks out like a sore thumb', was 'very ugly, an eyesore' and was 'harmful to the amenity, character and appearance of the area'. Now Ms Khanom's son, Mohammed, 21, has claimed that some of the neighbours who objected were simply 'jealous' of their large home. 'We moved here from a bad area. We made some money and built the house of our dreams - that's the sum of it,' he said. 'Some people are just jealous because our home makes theirs look small. Personally, I wouldn't even care if my neighbour painted his house yellow. 'There's nine of us living here, so we need a big home for our family. Mohammed also revealed that the family has plans to turn another property they own into an AirBnB - a move that could make some locals even angrier. AirBnBs in residential areas have frequently proved controversial among neighbours due to issues such as increased noise and rows over parking. Mohammed said: 'We've found some land nearby and plan to build an even bigger property because we need more space and we're going to turn this one into an Airbnb.' He added that the family owned other property, a restaurant and a car hire company in Dubai. It is believed the porch at the property on Chadderton Hall Road was the final straw for many long-standing residents who already believed it was being 'overdeveloped'. Planning approval was previously given for a dormer, a two-storey side and rear extension and a 'children's play house' which, they claimed, served no purpose. The council. however. initially refused to grant permission for the porch in December 2022. A report called it an 'overly dominant and incongruous addition to the existing property' which would cause a 'detrimental impact upon the character and appearance of the street scene, largely owing to its prominence and unduly conspicuous appearance'. Ms Khanom appealed and submitted revised plans - changing the colour of the pillars from white to black - in March 2023, but they too were refused. A further appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate and when she defied an enforcement notice - extended to December, last year - to either remove the porch or reduce its size, the council took her to court. She admitted breaching the enforcement notice at Tameside Magistrates' Court last month and was ordered to pay £1,050 costs, a £500 fine and £200 victim surcharge. Alternative plans for the porch, which limit its size, have been approved by the council and the two large pillars have since been removed and replaced with wooden supports. Many disgruntled neighbours believe Ms Khanom should have been prosecuted earlier for her family's 'arrogant' stance and attempts to 'ride roughshod' over planning rules. One man, who didn't wish to be named, said: 'The porch was the final straw for me. 'They'd already had permission for a massive extension to the house, which comes a long way out and is not in keeping with the character of the area or nearby homes, and a children's play house despite no kids living there. 'The original porch had two, massive pillars - people were comparing them to the ones you see at the Trafford Centre. 'It was a monstrosity and everyone from round here was really unhappy with it – 23 objections were submitted to the council. 'But they were really arrogant and refused to take the porch down and the council should have prosecuted them sooner. 'The next step should be for the council to carry out an inspection of the play house and see what that's really being used for.' Another neighbour Ian Rees, 69, said: 'They're not good neighbours. 'They had lovely trees at the back of the house but when they built the huge extension they ripped them all down. 'At the end of the day, you don't want trouble with your neighbours - there's no need for it. 'But the porch they put up was massive. 'It jutted out a long way and the builders left a lot of rubbish piled up on a grassy area of the road.' Another resident said he'd objected to the porch because it 'wasn't it keeping with the rest of the neighbourhood'. He added that there was 'nothing malicious' in neighbours' objections and it was important for the council to 'show consistency' in planning decisions. But not all neighbours were upset by the porch. One woman said she 'didn't get involved' in the objections while one man, who lives next door, said she'd 'never had any issues with Ms Khanom's family. 'I get on well with all of them,' he said. 'There's a good mix of people around here but I think some of the older residents worry about some things too much.'

Edinburgh Live

18 hours ago

• Edinburgh Live

Plans for Edinburgh holiday apartments at site of former New Town social club

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Plans to transform a former social club into new, serviced apartments have been met with a mixed response by Edinburgh New Town residents. The application, submitted on behalf of Sovo Apartments, would see six serviced flats at 7 Baxter's Place and has been recommended for approval by city planning officers. Some locals fear the new holiday stay apartments could bring disruption to their upmarket street - whereas other argue the plans could be helpful to the area. Simon Davis, who lives on nearby Blenheim Place, was one of the eight residents to object to the plans. He believes that there isn't sufficient access to the building which would make it difficult for housekeeping and laundry services to service them. He told Edinburgh Live: "The classic thing is, they need to be serviced. So how are they going to do that? Are they going to come in front? Are they going to come in the back? "There are going to be turnovers on a regular basis. There's just going to be a whole heap of traffic coming in and out and noise. People are already having to park here to go around the corner or try and park in the back and so it's just not a suitable spot." If approved, the building will include three one bed apartments, three two bed apartments and a dedicated reception area. PJ Sanderson, who goes by Sandy, lives on Greenside End and feels that the new development could put pressure on the plumbing. He says he already experiences problems with this and worries it could become worse if the serviced flats went ahead because of the turnover of people in the building. He said: "The problem that I have with that area is that the drainage isn't very good because what I call the new news house, but it must be 15 years old now, is built on top of where the drains come out of Baxter's Place. "It's quite a lot if everyone's [going to the toilet] at the same time, you know." While many have objected to the plans, other residents welcome them. Marcello Mega lives in the flats next to the proposed holiday apartments. He feels more positive about the developer. He said: "We've met him two or three times. He's come and kept us informed, he's showed me around and he's actually offered to show us around again. "He's going to be running this high-end Airbnb, and he's got other businesses like that. So where [the last owner] had the maximum capacity of 61 people, he's going to have a maximum capacity of 21. "He's turned a two bedroom into a one bedroom to have a 24 hour reception, so that there will always be somebody there so if there is a nuisance, we'll have somebody to go and speak to him or somebody who will answer the phone right away and be able to deal with it." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox He continued: "It's never been part of the housing stock, it's not like they have taken four flats or something that had previously been providing homes to people and decided to buy them up and turn them into a commercial venture. I would probably have opposed that, but it was a social club before and then it was holiday lets and now it's going to be holiday lets but run properly by a person who has integrity. "He's spent a fortune, the flats have already been built up twice in the in the nearly nine years that we've been her, and he's ripped the flooring out and all that. He didn't like it, had it ripped out and he's put really expensive hardwood flooring in. "He's taken up the wallpaper in the in the lobby and chucked it because he didn't like it And you know he's just intent on doing everything properly, and he's sort of really aware, he's done his research, he's really aware of what William Playfair did and what he expected the homes in the area to look like and his attention to detail is really impressive. "So as I've told them, you know, we support him, we haven't opposed it on the council's portal, and we hope that he does really well, because I think he's had a good idea, he's invested in it properly and given that it's never been part of the housing stock before, I don't think that he's doing anything that is damaging the local community." Sovo Apartments have assured locals that they are not your "traditional short-term let operation" and that they will have a much different client base than budget accommodation venues. A spokesperson said: "We appreciate the opportunity to provide context regarding our Baxter's Place development and to address the community's concerns. "Sovo Apartments operates exclusively in the luxury short-term accommodation sector, catering to discerning guests seeking premium experiences. We are not a traditional short-term let operation. "Our properties feature bespoke curated design, luxury amenities including spa baths, and personalised guest services that attract a completely different clientele than budget accommodations. Our commitment to excellence has been recognized industry-wide - our Alva Street property was recently a finalist for 'Best Apartment in Scotland' at the prestigious Herald Property Awards, demonstrating our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in Scottish hospitality." They went on to highlight steps that they will be taking to ensure that there is no disruption to their neighbours, such as limited occupancy in their apartments, a 24 hour manned reception, professional management systems, professional contractors who have protocols to keep disruption to a minimum during turnover periods, a streamlined check in and check out process for guests, and a focus on guest communication with clear expectations for them to respect the neighbourhood. They added: "We recognize the neighbour's hesitancy given past experiences with the previous illegal hostel operation. However, Sovo Apartments represents a fundamental shift toward responsible, luxury hospitality. Our business model depends on maintaining excellent relationships with the local community, as our reputation and guest satisfaction are directly linked to the neighbourhood's character. "We welcome ongoing dialogue with residents and remain committed to being exemplary neighbours while contributing positively to Edinburgh's tourism economy through our luxury offering."

Telegraph

a day ago

• Telegraph

Prostitutes, a porn star and a bouncer - Spanish PM Sanchez embroiled in corruption scandal

Spain's Teflon Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez swept to power seven years ago, vowing to clean up Spanish politics. Now his Socialist party (PSOE) is engulfed in a corruption scandal involving prostitutes, public contracts, kickbacks, secret recordings, a former nightclub bouncer and a porn star. His wife faces a separate investigation into allegations of influence-peddling, and there are claims that party officials created a job especially for his musician brother David. Mr Sánchez's enemies call him the 'dog' because they say he is impossible to get rid of, but the graft scandal is now threatening to finally bring him down. Europe's most influential Left-wing leader is well aware of the risks, and the irony, of his invidious position. Mr Sánchez ousted his scandal-hit conservative predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, by winning a vote of no confidence against him in 2018. Spain's National Court had ruled that Mr Rajoy's Partido Popular (PP) was guilty of 'institutional corruption'. Mr Sánchez promised a new era of 'democratic regeneration' as he cobbled together a coalition of communists, separatists and former terrorist organisation Eta's political wing to grab power. His grip on Spain's government has not slipped in the years since, despite the recent massive blackouts, deadly floods in Valencia, or the allegations about his family. His taste for woke politics has enraged the Spanish Right and he has clashed with Donald Trump and refused to commit to a new Nato defence spending target. Such controversies bounce off the bulletproof prime minister thanks to the deeply polarised world of Spanish politics. None of the rag-tag bunch of Leftists propping up his government want to be the one to break ranks for fear of handing power to a coalition of the PP and the far-Right Vox. But the pressure is building on the handsome Madrileño after weeks in which his Socialist party has been roiled by seedy revelation after grubby exposé. It is the involvement of sex workers and porn stars that has particularly appalled his woke allies, who so far, have stopped short of collapsing the government. But Yolanda Díaz, the deputy prime minister and leader of far-Left Sumar, and her ministers pointedly left their front-bench seats in Congress empty when Mr Sanchez fought for his political life, trading blows with opposition leaders on Wednesday. It was a sign that the pressure was beginning to tell after months of the spotlight shining on PSOE party cadres and some of Mr Sánchez's closest comrades. Santos Cerdán, a long-time close ally of Mr Sánchez resigned as party secretary last week. A police report revealed his alleged involvement in charging companies for accessing public works contracts in his home region of Navarre and elsewhere. Mr Sánchez was humiliatingly forced to apologise for being 'mistaken' about Mr Cerdán. He had backed him, despite a flurry of rumours after criminal investigations were opened last year into his Navarran associate, Koldo García. Mr Garcia is a former nightclub bouncer and chauffeur who worked his way up the Socialist party ladder and became a key aide to José Luis Ábalos. Mr Ábalos, along with Mr Cerdán, backed Mr Sánchez from party outsider to winner in two primary processes a decade ago, playing a key role in his ascent to power. He is suspected by a supreme court judge of helping himself to hundreds of thousands of euros in kickbacks from companies during his spell as transport and infrastructure minister between 2018 and 2021. Ábalos was also Socialist party secretary until Mr Sánchez dropped him from the post and the cabinet in 2021. The prime minister insisted on Wednesday that the Cerdán crisis was a mere 'anecdote'. But secret recordings underpinning the investigation make painful listening because of his old comrades discussing and comparing the merits of sex workers. Mr Sánchez made the fight against sexism in macho Spain a touchstone of his government, and the tapes are a major embarrassment for a politician with a sweeping feminist agenda. 'This disgusts us. The sexist terms expressed are absolutely incompatible with the feminist values of this party,' Mr Sánchez said. A source close to the government told The Telegraph that Mr Sánchez's decision to suddenly drop Mr Ábalos before the corruption probes began was 'due to his proclivity for prostitutes'. One morning in early June, Mr Ábalos's home in Valencia was searched by police. They found the former minister in the company of a woman named only as Anaís, a 32-year-old model. She was later revealed by the newspaper El Mundo to be a porn star using the name Letizia Hilton. According to reports, Mr Ábalos made a failed attempt to sneak a hard drive out of the house under the noses of police investigators by hiding it in his female companion's pocket when officers allowed her out to walk the dog. Police investigation Mr García, commonly referred to by all as simply 'Koldo', is reported to have recorded and filed all of his conversations over more than a decade of running errands for top Socialists. Police are examining the contents of four memory sticks full of recordings and have reportedly recovered others he attempted to erase but which were recovered from the cloud. In one, he says: 'I'm fed up. They treat me like a stupid small-town boy: I'm very coarse, I'm capable of breaking a guy's legs just because they ask me to (…) But with time, you learn.' Who has recorded whom saying what has become key in the case, and there is paranoia among Socialist ranks as to what files kept by Mr Ábalos and his sidekick Mr García could contain. Sources with access to the police investigation have told The Telegraph that police reports are being compiled on at least one other minister over their Ábalos connection. Mr Sánchez has insisted that the Socialist party is not corrupt and has ordered a fresh external audit of the party's finances. A PP source told The Telegraph that leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo is now sure that 'it is just a matter of time' before Mr Sánchez falls. That will depend on the next batch of leaked recordings and whether a strong connection can be built by investigators between Mr Cerdán's side deals and party financing. Mr Sanchez's rivals are hoping to do to what he did to Mariano Rajoy seven years ago. Mr Feijóo accused Mr Sánchez of being 'deeply ensnared in a corruption scheme' during their fiery clash in the Spanish parliament. 'No matter how much you disguise yourself, you are not the victim. We Spaniards are the victim,' Mr Feijóo told Mr Sánchez, before mocking his refusal to call early elections 'because you know you will lose'.