Affordable Housing Act follows huge public pressure for action, says European Commission
Local authorities will have greater scope to restrict holiday lets and other short-term rentals under new criteria to identify areas under “housing stress”, tabled by the European Commission on Wednesday.
The past two decades has seen a boom in residential properties being advertised to accommodate travellers and tourists, driven by online platforms like Airbnb.
“Short term rentals are a part of the problem in many cities,” Dan Jørgensen, commissioner for energy and housing said, presenting the Affordable Housing Act.
Jørgensen said the rise in short term rentals in certain parts of some European cities had “led to normal people being crowded out of their homes”, adding: “That has led to an increase in prices that are totally unacceptable.”
