Short-term rentals across Europe could be in for a shake-up as a consultation on the sector drawn up by regulators comes to a close.
The European Commission (EC) announced the short-term accommodation rental initiative in March 2020, calling for a “more resilient, innovative and sustainable ecosystem” for tourism including new rules for short-term rental services.
The aim of the initiative is the development of “responsible, fair and trusted growth in short-term rentals,” as part of that ecosystem, with Europe-wide rules to be put in place.
The vacation rentals sector has come up against huge criticism in recent years for constricting the supply of long-term rentals and contributing to overtourism, particularly in cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona.
At the time of the initiative’s launch, the EC formed a data-sharing pact with rental giants including Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and Tripadvisor.
The deal enables office of statistics Eurostat to publish data on the sale of short-term rental accommodation on the platforms including length of stay and number of guests.
With the EC poised to adopt new rules in the first quarter of 2022, Airbnb has moved to update its policies.
Its five-point EU Host Action Plan seeks to ensure the benefits of short-term rentals remain while working with regulators to address negative impacts.
Included in the plan is the establishment of an EU host register and supporting enforcement of regulations.
* Check out this interview with Airbnb's policy chief Chris Lehane, recorded the PhocusWire Pulse: Rentals On The Rise event in September 2021.