Airbnb accuses Barcelona City Council of using 'indiscriminate methodology' to remove listings

Airbnb has accused Barcelona City Council of applying an "indiscriminate methodology" in its recent requests to remove listings.

Barcelona deputy mayor Laia Bonet announced on Wednesday that the council is considering measures against the platform for not taking down 800 illegal tourist rental listings.

Airbnb issued a statement in response saying it "continues to address" requests to remove listings that do not comply with the rules.

The platform argues that the council included some listings that do not require a license, such as seasonal rentals, and said it had warned that this could "cause delays."

It also expressed "concern over the apparent lack of willingness" from Barcelona and Catalonia to engage with the platform.

In the statement, Airbnb defended short-term rentals as "creating economic opportunities for small local businesses" while "making travel affordable for Catalan families."

It criticizes Barcelona and Catalonia for "failing to establish fairer and more balanced rules."

Despite this, the platform says it intends to continue to collaborate with Barcelona City Council under the new EU regulatory framework.

Airbnb claims it conveyed this to mayor Jaume Collboni two months ago but did not receive any response.

Barcelona considering measures

Barcelona City Council announced on Wednesday is was considering measures against Airbnb after the company failed to remove 800 illegal tourist apartment listings in the first quarter of this year.

Deputy mayor Laia Bonet said the platform was no longer responding to her requests to remove the listings as it had done so previously, and accused it of being "an accomplice" to illegal activity in the city.