Commission seeks public opinion on short-term accommodation rentals

The Commission has launched a public consultation related to short-term accommodation rentals. 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. The feedback from the consultation will help the Commission to assess the relevance of new regulatory measures. 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. This document mentions a possible legislative proposal for improving the framework for short-term accommodation rental services, among other actions to be explored. The public consultation is open until 13 December 2021.