The European Commission presented the Affordable Housing Law, a proposal that aims to create common rules for Member States to regulate short-term rentals, such as platforms like Airbnb, in areas under strong housing pressure. The legislation comes as a response to the growing difficulties in accessing housing in various European cities.
The Brussels proposal aims to give national and local governments tools to impose limits on tourism in housing crisis zones. The main objective is to safeguard primary housing for residents, ensuring that people can continue to live in their cities without being pushed out by the short-term rental market.
Brussels, however, establishes that any restrictions on short-term rentals must be accompanied by complementary measures. The Commission requires that Member States also implement incentives for the construction of new housing and urban rehabilitation, in order to increase the supply of housing in the market.
The law represents a balance between the need to protect residents and the recognition of the economic impact of tourism. By establishing common rules at the European level, Brussels aims to harmonize the approach across different countries, avoiding overly restrictive measures that could unduly harm the tourism sector.
