Archive photo of Bel Busquets in the Balearic parliament. | Jaume Morey

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Balearic tourism minister Bel Busquets confirmed yesterday that a sanctioning procedure against the online accommodation agency HomeAway was started last week. The tourism ministry is said to have notified the company on 28 March that it intends fining HomeAway 300,000 euros, the same level of fine that has already been imposed on Airbnb and TripAdvisor.

The reason for the fine is the same as with the two other platforms - non-compliance with Balearic holiday rentals legislation, and specifically a failure to include the required ministry registration licence number for all properties being advertised. HomeAway has fifteen days to respond.

Busquets said that the proceedings against Airbnb and TripAdvisor are "following their course". The government's legal services are currently studying responses from Airbnb, while TripAdvisor still has time to respond. She added that the maximum fine of 400,000 euros has not been imposed in any of the three cases but suggested that it would be if there is "recidivism".