B1 – Intermediate
Airbnb connects people looking to have their homes rented with those who are trying to find a place to stay in specific locations. Airbnb offers its users a lot of options on different kinds of houses or properties and a stress-free way for house or apartment owners to make money by renting out their property.
However, Airbnb’s popularity has not come without any problems in some countries and their governments are quick to respond.
Read the article below on the new set of rules in Spain on Airbnb rentals.
In Barcelona and Madrid, Airbnb hosts will be required to register the rental property with the city government before listing it. New York and Paris already use this rule.
Spanish provinces are cracking down on Airbnbs. They have put in place several new rules that will limit the number of Airbnb rentals in Spanish cities including Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca, Valencia, and Andalusia.
In Madrid, the city has proposed a rule (it’s not law yet) that would limit apartments to be rented only 90 days out of the year. It would also require that every property in the city center have a separate entrance for Airbnb guests. This proposal came after Madrid natives protested against tourists, saying that Airbnb has caused the city to have a lot more tourists. Some also believe that housing prices went up since Airbnb became so popular. With these new rules, 95% of Madrid’s existing Airbnbs would become illegal.
In Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, the rules have already become laws. Starting July, only houses, no apartments, will be allowed to be rented out as an Airbnb. In addition, every property must be registered. As of right now, only 700 out of 20,000 properties are correctly registered. Airbnb is expected to remove illegal listings from the site. This means that a lot of people who rented properties in July and August will lose their reservations.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your opinion about the new rules set for Airbnb rentals?
- What is your opinion on this: “With these new rules, 95% of Madrid’s existing Airbnbs would become illegal.”?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting up properties on platforms like Airbnb for rental?
- Have you used Airbnb before? What are the good and bad things about using it to book accommodations? If you haven’t, are you interested to try it out?
- What kind of accommodations do you prefer when you travel and why?
22 replies on “Spain Sets New Rules for Airbnb”
1. What is your opinion about the new rules set for Airbnb rentals?
In my opinion there are good new rules, because it is important that all the apartments are registered to avoid the illegal money.
2. What is your opinion on this: “With these new rules, 95% of Madrid’s existing Airbnbs would become illegal.”?
I think the rule that all the apartments need an individual entrance it is so harsh, because it is impossible to find this kind of apartments in spain.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting up properties on platforms like Airbnb for rental?
Advantages: more visibility, more accessible, cheaper, read opinions.
Disadvantages: possibility to annoy the neighbors and damages in their houses.
4. Have you used Airbnb before? Yes.
What are the good and bad things about using it to book accommodations? The good things are cheaper, centric, with kitchen to decreases the expenses when you travel. The bad things are if the house its in different conditions that you saw in pictures, or the household appliance are broken…
If you haven’t, are you interested to try it out?
5. What kind of accommodations do you prefer when you travel and why? I prefer hotel because they do all for you and when I stay on holydays y don`t do nothing.
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What is your opinion about the new rules set for Airbnb rentals?
I am ok with these rules. I think that the regulation is meant to protect the clients.
What is your opinion on this: “With these new rules, 95% of Madrid’s existing Airbnbs would become illegal.”?
I think that this article is quite old. Maybe when airbnb was introduced in Spain and there were no rules defined, the owners offered their apartments following their own criteria. However, I think that nowadays it is not the case.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting up properties on platforms like Airbnb for rental?
The pro is that small proprietaries can earn some money easily. The con is that if big proprietaries took advantage of the benefits that were conceived for small proprietaries, they will compite unfairly against the hostelry business
Have you used Airbnb before? What are the good and bad things about using it to book accommodations? If you haven’t, are you interested to try it out?
Yes, I have. I think it is an easy way to find accommodation. You can see pictures about the place and check commentaries from other users. However, sometimes pictures are not very reliable and you get disappointed when you are there.
What kind of accommodations do you prefer when you travel and why?
It depends on the kind of travel. When traveling in group I prefer an airbnb. When traveling in pairo r on my own I think that a hotel is more comfortable.
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1.-What is your opinion about the new rules set for Airbnb rentals?
In my opinion these rules are very stricts , govermenmnt always want to control everything with an only aim , get money.
2.-What is your opinion on this: “With these new rules, 95% of Madrid’s existing Airbnbs would become illegal.”?
Some control maybe could be required but like in hotels to know who is living there, it does not make sense doing htese houses illegals requesting to much things
3.-What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting up properties on platforms like Airbnb for rental?
I only see advantages , if the offer increases the price decreases and therefore you can stay in the downtown easily
4.-Have you used Airbnb before? What are the good and bad things about using it to book accommodations? If you haven’t, are you interested to try it out?
No yet to be honest , I used booking , something similar . The good thing is that you can spent less money , I ll try to rent something in the future
5.What kind of accommodations do you prefer when you travel and why? I would like to rent a little house but I meet that is difficult in the city center , but if you go to the field is the best option
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1.- In my opinion, it is one tool more to travel. It should work between private citizens, because when it’s holding companies that do business without respect neighbors, I’m not agree whit this.
2.- No, I haven’t used it. I am not closed to using it. I have searched their web and they have incredible places.
3.- I choose hotels when we travel to big cities and rural houses when we travel to other areas.
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1. What is your opinion about Airbnb and the service it provides?
I love Airbnb because the accommodations are usually apartments. When I travel I like to be able to rest in the apartment and make dinner and breakfast, be in my pajamas all over the house..
I always prefer an apartment to a hotel.
I think it’s good that they regulate it because otherwise landlords would stop renting for long periods of time and would dedicate themselves to Airbnb because they make more money.
2. Have you used Airbnb before? If not, are you open to trying it out?
Yes, I have. I always choose Airbnb when traveling.
3. What kind of accommodation do you choose when you travel?
I try to choose apartments or entire houses so I can walk freely all over the house. I really enjoy when the house have an outdoor area so I can sunbathe a bit (if the weather allows).
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
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1. I think that Airbnb provides a good service, the problem is the noise that this act provides to the neighborhood.
2. Yes, I have used Airbnb sometimes when I have traveled in Spain and other countries. I think that the service that is offered out of Spain is different.
3. Depend of the type of travel, but I usually search an independent apartament and outside of the city center.
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1. I don´t know this service with detail but any friend used it and said me this a wonderful experience.
2. I have never used Airbnb but I wouldn’t mind trying it out. Internet offer well opinions by this service.
3. When I travel I usually book hotels or rural houses through comparatives internet pages. These help me to decided where I´m going to host.
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1. I don’t like the Airbnb. When I have a tryp, I prefer to go to a hotel. Booking a hotel is easy. Booking an Airbnb requires more steps and contact with the host. It’s not always cheaper. In a hotel you do nothing. In an Airbnb you have to clean, pick up, make the bed….
I think it is a good option when you go with many friends to party.
2. No, I have never used Airnbnb.
Maybe, but usually I prefer to go to a hotel.
3. When I travel, I always go to hotels. The reason is the comfort, the service, every day they clean and prepare the room…
You are doing a fine job in developing your skills. Keep it up!
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What is your opinion about Airbnb and the service it provides?
I think that It was a great idea at the begining while it wasn´t a bussiness, it must be limitated for private properties.
Have you used Airbnb before? If not, are you open to trying it out?
No, I don´t like the sistem. Actually It´s a way for land speculation and a rentier bussines.
What kind of accommodation do you choose when you travel?
I prefer hostelity places for my travels for confidence and safety, hotels, aparthotels, rural houses.
Keep being consistent in improving your writing skills. You are doing a good job so far.
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1. What is your opinion about Airbnb and the service it provides?
I think that the service that they provide to the tourist is very good regarding the commodities and the prices. But the problem became when the owners don’t follow the laws and the tourist don’t respect the neighbours. I know people very disagree with Airbnb service because they are suffered misbehaviour from your Airbnb neighbours.
2. Have you used Airbnb before? If not, are you open to trying it out?
Yes, I used it twice times in London and Berlin, and they were good.
3. What kind of accommodation do you choose when you travel?
It depends on who we travel with. If we travel with another family, we usually rent an apartment or a house if not a hotel.
Good job answering this lesson’s discussion questions.
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1. What is your opinion about Airbnb and the service it provides?
I respect all kinds of initiatives, especially if they promote activity and help make the tourism sector more competitive, but always respecting the laws and regulations of each place. Airbnb should avoid helping some owners make a profit without declaring fees
2. Have you used Airbnb before? If not, are you open to trying it out?
No, I have never used Airnbnb.
Maybe, but usually I prefer to go to a hotel.
3. What kind of accommodation do you choose when you travel?
Normally I prefer to go to a hotel, but I have used all kinds of accommodation such as rental house, caravan, camping, bed & breakfast,…
Great that you are continuously practicing your writing. Keep going with it! One recommendation we can give you is to make sure to explain why. For example, in question # 2, instead of just answering that you have never used Airbnb and that you prefer staying at hotels, you could have cited reasons why hotels are your preferred accommodations over Airbnb.
Take a look at how this response can be improved a bit:
You are doing a good job. Keep it up!