Rental portals face Spain price-rule investigation

Spain’s biggest rental portals are under investigation over whether adverts in areas facing difficulties comply with price rules and requirements for tenancy agreements. Andrés Barragán, secretary-general for Consumer Affairs and Gambling, announced the move in Madrid on Friday, 25 September. He said the checks build on rental-market enforcement under Law 12/2023.

Earlier fines and removed listings

One estate agency has already been fined €3.6 million, Barragán said, while proceedings are under way against two others.

He also cited Airbnb, where almost 66,000 adverts judged illegal were removed and a €64 million penalty was imposed. The listings lacked licence numbers, he said, and many involved professional operators presenting themselves as private hosts.

Hidden charges and emergency price rises

Barragán warned about dynamic pricing and hidden design features, known as “dark patterns”, as well as extra charges that push up the final price. He said scrutiny should cover not only the offer itself but also the algorithms, interfaces and possible breaches behind it.

That approach has led to more than 50 sanctions worth a combined €250 million, he said. Barragán pointed to on-demand transport during last year’s blackout, when some prices rose by more than 300%.

Authorities will again put forward a decree to regulate price increases during emergencies after an earlier version was repealed by five votes. Barragán said the factors used to set dynamic prices must be transparent and disclosed to consumers.

Topics: Housing · Politics · Economy

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com