Airbnb set to face more restrictions as EU proposes rules to tackle housing crunch
The plan would give cities legal cover to curb multi-property operators in areas with severe housing pressure, as rents rose 3% in early 2026, officials said.
- On Wednesday, the European Commission introduced the Affordable Housing Act, empowering local authorities to restrict short-term rentals and second-home purchases in areas facing acute housing pressure deemed "under housing stress."
- Property prices surged 60% and rents climbed 20% over the past decade, prompting Brussels officials to address a deepening housing crisis where more than 2 million new homes are needed annually.
- To define "under housing stress," authorities must assess price-to-income ratios and growth trends, ensuring any restrictions remain non-discriminatory and proportionate to local market conditions.
- Lobbying group CCIA, representing Airbnb, warned the proposal lacks independent oversight, stating "without enforceable proportionality checks," the act could unfairly penalize homeowners renting rooms.
- European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera will lead the presentation, with the proposal now requiring debate by member states and the European Parliament in coming months before becoming law.
179 Articles
179 Articles
The European Commission is proposing a new regulatory framework for short-term rentals that could lead to more serious restrictions on platforms such as Airbnb and other holiday accommodation services. The aim is to give local and national authorities clearer legal tools to intervene in areas where tourist rentals are putting pressure on the housing market. The proposal comes against a backdrop of a deepening housing affordability problem in a n…
New rules from Brussels to limit tourist rentals in areas with high housing costs – What changes for Airbnb, second homes and foreclosed properties The post “Brake” on short-term rentals by the Commission to address the housing crisis appeared first on in.gr.
The initiative of the executive body of the European Union seeks to harmonise the rules throughout Europe, after authorities in cities such as Paris, Barcelona and Venice have resorted to a series of different rules to restrict the activity of Airbnb, which subsequently provoked legal challenges. The shortage of accessible housing, as a result of the increase in short-season rents for tourists, has led residents, especially young Europeans, to t…
Dan Jorgensen proposes, among other things, a criterion for defining areas of tension, and is interested in ways of reducing the pressure on housing prices or the levers available to elected officials to regulate the acquisition of secondary residences, but his text raises concerns and mistrust.
The European Commission has announced the Affordable Housing Act, with the main aim of supporting Member States and cities in addressing the housing crisis.
In the future, Member States will have to impose stricter requirements on second home owners in the event of housing shortages, and they should no longer be allowed to rent out to tourists. Some cities are already fighting back.
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