Airbnb and other companies providing short-term home rentals could face tighter restrictions after the European Commission proposed new rules on Wednesday to help tackle housing shortages in tourist hotspots.
A surge in short-term holiday rentals has contributed to a shortage of affordable housing and a spike in housing prices in many of Europe's most popular tourist destinations, prompting residents to protest in recent years .
What do we know about the EU's affordable housing proposal?
The EU's executive branch unveiled the measures as part of an "affordable housing" package, which will allow local authorities to limit short-term rentals to address what European Commission vice-president Teresa Ribera described as a "terrible crisis."
"When the market fails to deliver something as fundamental as an affordable home, public authorities have a responsibility to act," the Spanish politician said.
