Andorra's Habitacions.ad surges to 100 daily users amid housing crisis, then goes offline

**Habitacions.ad platform surges with 100 new users daily amid Andorra's housing crisis before going offline**

The Habitacions.ad platform, launched to centralize room rental listings in Andorra, registered around 100 new users per day in its first weeks, far exceeding initial expectations. Creators described the response as a surprise, with steady growth starting from its promotion on social media networks.

Developed over two years by Oscar Giménez, Sigrid De los Santos, and Biel Galiot—two aeronautical engineers and one IT specialist—the site connected renters and property owners frustrated by fragmented options. Users included regular advertisers from general portals, newcomers avoiding structured platforms, and those seeking order over saturated informal channels like WhatsApp or Telegram groups.

The free service, which charges no commissions, featured searches via interactive maps or filters by parish and price. It required user registration to enable contact, aiming to boost traceability and curb fraud common in unregulated spaces. Plans included strengthening verification to block fake or duplicate profiles.

This rapid uptake highlighted Andorra's acute rental shortages, particularly for rooms, and reliance on informal networks amid limited supply. However, concerns emerged over practices like subletting rooms without explicit owner consent, operating in legal grey areas.

Shortly after gaining attention through media coverage, Habitacions.ad and a similar site, habitacio.ad, went offline, displaying construction-mode messages about upcoming improvements. The move followed comments from Housing Minister Conxita Marsol, who questioned the legality of such room rentals. She stressed that subletting requires the property owner's agreement and noted insufficient regulation for these activities. Marsol indicated more inspections of advertisements and platforms, adding that operators need at least a commercial authorization, which she believed had not been issued.

Authorities have not clarified further details on the shutdown or ongoing checks.