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Brussels – Members of the EU Parliament want to better regulate short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb or Booking. At a press conference in Brussels, a study and a legislative proposal were presented that aim to highlight and solve the problems in the sector. “The housing market is a market, there is demand and supply, but the supply is shrinking,” said SPÖ EU delegation leader Andreas Schieder, who is the coordinator in the new housing special committee.
On the same market, short-term landlords, who only want to make large profits, are competing with families who want a home: This is how Schieder summarizes the problem. “Therefore, regulation is necessary.” “We propose a directive that brings a minimum level of harmonization for the operation of STARs (short-term accommodation rentals, note) in the EU,” explained Greek professor and study author Vassilis Hatzopoulos. Currently, there is “fragmentation and legal uncertainty.”
Clear definition of operators
A EU-wide legal basis is proposed for the introduction of minimum regulations that focus on the operators and aim to create a clear legal framework for STARs while providing legal clarity and security for the authorities. There should be a clear definition of and a distinction between non-professional and professional operators. “For small and medium-sized enterprises that want to get by, there will be less strict rules than for professionals,” said Hatzopoulos.
“We do not want to abolish this type of rental options,” emphasized Gabriele Bischoff, deputy chair of S&D for social Europe and the internal market. Her Socialist & Democrats group wants to “ensure that enough apartments and houses are available for the people who live and work in the city.” In all major cities, there are professional companies that rent, the German emphasized. In 2023, 719 million nights were booked through STARs, 20 percent more than in 2022: “And the growth continues.”
Mission to Vienna planned
She is undertaking fact-finding missions to various EU cities to shed light on the different situations on the ground. A trip to Vienna is also planned, as “the Vienna rental market is different,” said the Berliner. “Many apartments are not privately owned, but are in municipal hands.”
Schieder, who has been the S&D special coordinator in the newly established special committee of the EU Parliament on the housing crisis since this legislative period, also addressed the rules for state aid: He is also concerned with “how state funds can be invested in affordable housing.” In addition to short-term rentals, the committee, according to the Austrian, will also deal with issues such as homelessness or the housing situation of young and vulnerable groups. Because: Housing is a “social good and human right, not a speculative commodity.” (14.05.2025)