Brussels defended that the European Union should establish limits on short-term rentals, such as Airbnb platforms, only when there is a worsening of pressure on housing in European cities.
The European Commission presented a proposal that does not foresee a general ban on this type of tourist accommodation. Instead, the document establishes specific criteria to determine under what circumstances national, regional or local authorities could adopt restrictive measures.
This approach aims to find a balance between promoting tourism and the need to guarantee access to affordable housing for residents. Local authorities would thus have tools to intervene when the impact on the real estate market became problematic.
The proposal comes in a context of growing concern in several European capitals regarding housing shortages and rising real estate prices, phenomena that many partially blame on the proliferation of short-term rentals.
