EU to Limit Airbnb-Like Rentals
The European Commission is developing a new law to allow EU cities and regions to limit short-term rental housing via platforms like Airbnb, aiming to address housing shortages and rising prices in tourist areas.
Consensus
- The European Commission is developing a new legislative act to allow cities and regions in the EU to impose restrictions on short-term rental housing through platforms like Airbnb.
- The initiative aims to address housing shortages and rising prices in popular tourist destinations.
- In tourist-heavy areas such as Sorrento, Dubrovnik, and the Canary Islands, short-term rentals can account for up to 20% of the total housing stock.
- Local authorities in cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Barcelona are already attempting to regulate or restrict short-term rentals.
- The proposed law is intended to provide a legal basis for local governments to implement restrictions without fear of legal challenges from landlords.
- The goal is not to eliminate short-term rentals but to create a balanced system where residents, tourists, hosts, and hotels can coexist.
Points of divergence
- The initiative has the working name 'Affordable Housing Act' and is expected to be announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in September. — vedomosti
- Prices for housing in the EU have risen over 60% since 2013, and rental costs have increased by about 20%. — vedomosti
- The number of short-term rentals increased by 93% from 2018 to 2024. — vedomosti
- Workers in the tourism sector, such as cleaners, cooks, guides, and airport staff, are forced to live in distant suburbs due to housing unaffordability. — vedomosti
- The initiative is based on data from the Joint Research Centre (JRC). — komersant
- Local authorities are hesitant to implement rules due to fear of legal challenges, often resorting to non-compliant measures. — vesti
- Representatives of the tourism industry, including Airbnb, warn that strict restrictions could cause serious economic damage to cities. — vesti
- The European Commission previously warned of a budget crisis due to high energy prices, prompting measures to control fuel costs. — vesti
Coverage (3 sources)
- EU prepares law to limit short-term rental platform operations — Ведомости
- In the European Union, a law against Airbnb is being developed — Коммерсантъ
- In the EU, short-term rental like Airbnb may be restricted by law — Вести