STR accountability at the core of EU Housing Board recommendations

Background

The European Housing Advisory Board, established in June 2025, was tasked with advising the European Commission on its forthcoming Affordable Housing Plan. Comprising experts from housing research, finance, and urban development, the Board recently issued a report setting out 75 recommendations aimed at tackling Europe’s housing crisis. The overarching goal is to treat housing as essential social and economic infrastructure, ensuring affordability, sustainability, and inclusivity across Member States. The European Commission can take into consideration the Board’s recommendations in its the European Affordable Housing Plan, expected on December 16th.

Short-term rentals and the housing crisis

The Advisory Board identifies short-term rentals (STRs) as a significant contributor to housing market stress, particularly in urban areas and popular tourist destinations. The report notes that the rapid expansion of STRs has reduced housing availability and driven up rents, exacerbating affordability challenges. It warns that current STR rules relying on self-declaration are insufficient, enabling circumvention of registration requirements and undermining enforcement.

Specific recommendations on STRs

The Board proposes key measures:

1. Mandatory regulation and data transparency
• STR registration should be compulsory across all Member States.
• Platforms must be held liable for illegal listings and required to share comprehensive data, including rental duration and host status.
2. Zoning and permitting systems
• Support Member States in implementing permitting frameworks and zoning restrictions for STRs.
• Regulations should consider housing affordability stress, landlord scale, and local carrying capacity.

3. Funding homelessness services
   • The Board recommends introducing a solidarity contribution from STR platforms to fund homelessness services, reflecting the sector’s impact on housing markets.

More broadly, the Board emphasizes that housing policy, including STRs measures, should be coordinated across EU, national, and local levels, stating that a “one-size-fits-all” approach is inappropriate and calling for a multi-level governance model that combines European coherence with local adaptability.

Alignment with HOTREC’s position

HOTREC welcomes most of the Board’s recommendations which align with HOTREC’s position, including on multi-level governance, mandatory STR regulation, and enhanced STR platform accountability for illicit listings. However, the Board does not stress the need for baseline obligations in areas like safety, hygiene, or insurance, and working condition standards comparable to hotels, elements HOTREC considers essential for fair competition and consumer protection.

Airbnb’s reaction: “The EU’s housing recommendations miss the mark”

On social media, Airbnb has expressed support for the Board’s recognition of housing as essential social infrastructure but has raised concerns about making the EU STR Regulation mandatory before it comes into effect in May 2026. The company argues that efforts should focus on enforcing existing rules rather than introducing new ones. Airbnb also contends that the report places disproportionate blame on STRs for the housing crisis, while overlooking the much greater impact of vacant homes and the ongoing expansion of hotels into urban areas without comparable scrutiny. Finally, the company emphasizes that STR platforms already contribute billions in tourist taxes across all 27 Member States, resources that could meaningfully support housing if allocated effectively.