The European Union has unveiled a major draft proposal to further tighten restrictions on Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms, as it seeks to tackle the increasingly severe housing shortage crisis.
The draft, unveiled on Sept. 4 local time, would allow EU member states to impose caps on short-term rentals in areas facing housing shortages. For travellers who regularly stay in holiday rentals when visiting Europe, accommodation options in popular cities could become significantly more limited in the future.
According to the draft legislation obtained by Reuters, the EU initiative aims to provide member states with clear criteria for determining when housing shortages are severe enough to justify restrictions on short-term rentals. Authorities would have to ensure that any restrictions comply with principles including non-discrimination, proportionality and the public interest.
Several popular European cities have already taken action against short-term rentals.
Barcelona, Spain, plans to completely phase out existing licences for tourist apartments by November 2028. Amsterdam is gradually reducing its annual rental limit from 60 days to 15 days, while Paris has cut the annual rental limit for non-primary residences from 120 days to 90 days, with fines for violations potentially exceeding €100,000.
The Spanish government also imposed a €64 million fine on Airbnb in July this year and ordered the removal of 65,000 listings that violated regulations.
Related News:
China-Europe Arctic container express kicks off 2026 summer season with 20 days arriving in UK
Comment