New analysis shows stringent STR regulations have failed to improve the housing situation in Amsterdam and Barcelona
Recent years have seen the introduction of stringent short-term rental (STR) regulations in several European cities, including Amsterdam and Barcelona. A new data analysis shows these measures implemented with the aim of alleviating housing challenges have failed in improving housing affordability and availability for locals.
Airbnb’s analysis based on publicly available data highlights that the enforcement of strict STR restrictions in both Amsterdam and Barcelona has not resulted in lower average long-term rents. Instead while the numbers of short term rentals have fallen in both cities, local rents have continued to increase dramatically since these regulations were enforced:
In Amsterdam, among various restrictions a stringent 30 nights per year cap rule was introduced on short term rentals in 2019. As a result the number of short term rentals on Airbnb has decreased by 54% between 2019 and 2024. However, long term rents have increased by a sharp 34% between the same period of time1, compared to 13% growth across the Netherlands overall2.
In Barcelona, a set of restrictions including a moratorium on new short term rentals have been introduced since 2014. From 2018 Airbnb has supported enforcement by taking down listings flagged by the municipality. As a result, the number of Airbnb listings has decreased by 24% between 2018 and 2024. However, long term rents have surged by 37% during the same period of time, compared to 9% growth across Spain overall3.
The failure of STR restrictions to address housing challenges in both cities echoes what has been observed elsewhere. In New York City, the de facto ban on short term rentals since 2023 has not increased housing availability or affordability as promised, with vacancy rates unchanged and rents continuing to rise, despite Airbnb short-term listings dropping by approximately 92 percent.
In fact, data shows that high occupancy listings4 typically represent only a small fraction of local housing stock in cities —less than 0.09 percent in Amsterdam, and 0.94 percent in Barcelona—making STRs an unlikely primary driver of housing shortages.
However, disproportionate restrictions have a real negative impact on European families, hurting locals who rely on hosting and their surrounding communities, while driving up hotel prices. In many large cities, these restrictions risk turning travel into a luxury reserved for the wealthiest, while everyday travelers are being priced out.
In Amsterdam, Oxford Economics estimates a loss of 269 million euros in total host earnings since the implementation of current short term rentals regulations5. This is millions of euros taken from everyday hosts and small businesses, often to the benefit of large hotel chains. In Barcelona hotel nights have skyrocketed by 60 percent since the implementation of stringent local STR rules in 2014.
Proportional regulations help preserve the benefits of hosting
Local regulatory responses must be evidence-based and targeted to neighbourhoods where housing tensions are acute while preserving the benefits that occasional short-term rentals bring to both travelers and local communities. According to Oxford Economics, travelers staying in short-term rentals generated 149 billion euros in economic benefits, supported 2.1 million jobs, and generated 40 billion euros in total tax revenue across EU countries in 2023.
Airbnb remains committed to working with policymakers to ensure balanced solutions that protect the rights of residents to live, host, and travel affordably across Europe.