(28 September 2021) – The European Commission has launched a public consultation related to short-term accommodation rentals. The feedback from the consultation will help the Commission to assess the relevance of new regulatory measures.
Over 1.5 million guests sleep in short-term accommodation across the EU per year. The objective of this consultation is to collect information about issues resulting from the rapid growth of short-term rentals, in particular for the sustainable development of cities, consumer safety or level playing field.
Short-term accommodation rentals have created new opportunities for hosts, guests and a range of new service providers, most of which are SMEs. To regulate this rapid rise of short-term rentals, many authorities across the EU have taken initiatives, which has resulted in a patchwork of varying rules and regulations.
In its SME Strategy of March 2020, the Commission announced an initiative on short-term accommodation rental services. The Commission proposes scenarios towards the co-creation of a transition pathway for a more resilient, innovative and sustainable tourism ecosystem.
The public consultation is open until 13 December 2021.