Airbnb’s solutions to support affordable housing policies

Airbnb has submitted its contribution to the public consultation on the EU’s Affordable Housing Plan. The housing crisis is real, and Airbnb urges EU lawmakers to steer away from unhelpful token policies and tackle its root causes such as the lack of investment in new construction and renovation and high vacancy rates driven by rising building costs, complex regulations, and unfavourable tax environments. Wherever implemented disproportionate short term rental restrictions have proved a losing game coinciding with raises in both housing costs for locals and overnight accommodation prices for travelers.  

When managed responsibly, STRs bring broad economic and social benefits. They can help support affordable housing and bridge the gap between opportunity-rich city centres and suburban or rural areas that increasingly feel left behind.

Airbnb welcomes the EU STR framework, which comes into effect early next year to harmonise host registration and data-sharing requirements across Member States, allowing cities to adopt proportionate, evidence-based rules. Europe should focus on ensuring these reforms take effect before moving toward additional legislation.

STRs Have a Limited Housing Impact but Wide Economic Reach

• Across Airbnb’s 50 biggest cities around the world, heavy occupancy entire-home listings made up only 0.5 percent of the housing stock overall in 2023. In cities such as Barcelona and Amsterdam, clampdowns on STRs have failed to improve affordability and have coincided with sharp increases in housing prices. 
• STRs now represent nearly one-quarter of all nights spent in EU tourist accommodation¹, reflecting travellers’ demand for more authentic and flexible options. Hosts on Airbnb earn a median of over €3,500 annually, with nearly half using this income to offset rising living costs.
• Almost 60% of Airbnb stays in the EU occur outside major cities, supporting rural economies and helping families, posted workers, and people relocating for work. STRs also help meet temporary demand during major events and in areas with limited hotel capacity.
• By contrast, hotels have a much larger real-estate footprint in European city centres and contribute significantly to overtourism and housing scarcity in popular districts — often facing fewer restrictions than STRs.

A Call for Coherent, Data-Driven STR Regulation

As Member States implement the EU STR framework, European leaders should use platform data to tailor smart, proportionate and coherent  rules across the continent. 

Conduct an independent impact assessment:

The European Commission should commission independent research to evaluate the effects of existing STR rules — and local authorities should amend or repeal those that fail to deliver measurable benefits for housing affordability.

Promote fair and consistent measures to manage tourism flows:

Since hotel stays account for the majority of guest nights in European city centres, measures to curb overtourism and protect affordable housing — such as caps or quotas — must apply evenly across all forms of accommodation. Restriction schemes should not lead to a hotel-only model for tourist accommodation but should ensure that a diverse range of options remains available to meet the needs of all travellers, including families.

Revisit destinations’ promotion strategies to encourage tourism dispersal:

Cities such as Amsterdam and Barcelona that face overtourism should rethink destination marketing to encourage more balanced visitor distribution. Platforms like Airbnb can help achieve this.

Working Together on Real Solutions for Housing and Inclusive Growth

STRs can help unlock underused housing, support access to home ownership, and revitalise communities left behind by economic shifts. Airbnb seeks to partner with EU policymakers and key European stakeholders to make STRs part of the broader solution for housing affordability and equitable tourism development across the continent.

• Encourage renovation and re-use of vacant housing:
  High renovation costs, administrative burdens, and unfavourable tax schemes have discouraged investment in vacant properties. Targeted tax rebates for home renovation and limited regulatory exemptions for STRs could help unlock unused housing across European cities.
• Support access to home ownership:
  Supplemental STR income can help households finance home purchases. Airbnb suggests working with banks on a Responsible Lending Charter that lets them consider occasional STR income when assessing affordability. Encouraging students and young professionals to sublet occasionally could also help them save for down payments and build ownership opportunities.
• Champion a “Tourism for All” agenda:
  Airbnb proposes creating a European Fund for Rural Tourism and Local Lodging to support destination marketing beyond major cities and an “Erasmus for Social Tourism” programme to help Europeans travel affordably and discover less-visited parts of the continent.

Europe’s housing challenges require partnership, not polarization. Thoughtfully managed short-term rentals can complement broader housing and tourism policies — helping unlock underused homes, support ownership, and spread the benefits of travel more evenly. Airbnb stands ready to work with EU policymakers and local communities to make the existing EU STR framework deliver real, lasting results for Europeans.