The European Commission proposed today new rules that allow limiting local accommodation, such as Airbnb-type platforms, only in areas under housing pressure and when authorities can demonstrate that this activity has been significantly affecting housing supply for at least three years. The proposal establishes that only under these specific conditions can the competent authorities adopt restrictive measures.
The initiative comes in the context of growing concern about housing affordability in several European cities, where the proliferation of short-term accommodation has been pointed out as a factor contributing to rising prices and reducing the supply of homes for permanent residents.
The new rules provide for a protection mechanism that requires concrete data sustained over three years before any limitation can be imposed, which aims to balance the need for market regulation with the protection of the rights of those who offer this type of accommodation.
The European Commission's proposal will now need to be debated and approved by Member States and the European Parliament before entering into force, in a legislative process that may undergo changes during negotiations.
