Airbnb set to face more restrictions as EU proposes rules to tackle housing crunch
The plan would give cities legal cover to curb professional holiday lets in areas with severe housing pressure, while protecting people renting their main homes.
- On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed the Affordable Housing Act, allowing local authorities to restrict short-term rentals and second-home purchases in areas experiencing 'housing stress.'
- Brussels estimates property prices surged 64.9% and rents climbed 21.8% over the last decade, exacerbating affordability pressures as short-term lets reduce housing supply across Europe.
- Under the proposal, authorities must demonstrate 'housing stress' using price-to-income ratios and show negative impacts persisting for three years; the rules protect residents renting out their primary homes.
- Lobbying group CCIA, representing Airbnb, warned the legislation lacks independent scrutiny, arguing without 'enforceable proportionality checks' the act could unfairly penalize homeowners renting rooms.
- The proposal faces months of debate by European Union member states and the European Parliament before becoming law, while the Commission urges nations to build more than 2 million homes annually.
232 Articles
232 Articles
The European Commission has published its proposals for a new regulatory framework to restrict short-term accommodation, including Airbnb, in a bid to address the housing crisis in tourist destinations.
Brussels wants to offer the City Councils legal bases to regulate this type of rental in tourist areas
The European Commission presented its proposal to support affordable housing, and many in the European Parliament were dissatisfied with the text.
EU Moves to Regulate Short-Term Rentals Amid Housing Crisis
The European Commission has proposed new rules for Airbnb and other short-term rental companies to address housing shortages in tourist-heavy areas. The initiative seeks to create uniform regulations across the EU, following diverse local measures and legal disputes in cities like Paris and Barcelona.
The EU cannot legislate on lettings, for example via Airbnb, but under certain conditions cities should be able to tighten up rules in the future.
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