Q&A on the Affordable Housing Act: short-term rentals and housing stress
The European Commission published a Q&A on the Affordable Housing Act, explaining its background and short-term rental impact. A June 2025 Eurobarometer found 40% of Europeans see affordable housing as an immediate and urgent problem where they live, rising to 51% in cities. Between 2018 and 2024, short-term rental activity across the four major platforms grew 93%. The Act provides a common framework to identify areas under housing stress, enabling targeted local measures, while decisions remain with Member States and local authorities. It does not ban short-term rentals or give the EU competence over housing.
Impact and considerations
Short-term rental platforms and accommodation operators should note the evidence requirements and five-year limit for local restrictions; the Act does not ban short-term rentals but requires measures to be proportionate, non-discriminatory and regularly reviewed.
Key points
- A June 2025 Eurobarometer found 40% of Europeans see affordable housing as an immediate and urgent problem where they live, rising to 51% in cities.
- Between 2018 and 2024, short-term rental activity across the four major platforms grew 93%.
- The Act provides a common framework to identify areas under housing stress, enabling targeted local measures.
- The Act does not ban short-term rentals or give the EU competence over housing; decisions remain with Member States and local authorities.
- Restrictions are limited to a maximum of five years, must be regularly reviewed and cannot apply retroactively.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- European Commission
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 9 Sept 2026, 06:00
- Page published
- 12 Sept 2026, 00:19
- Last updated
- 9 Sept 2026, 06:00
- Original links
- European Commission Press Corner：Questions and answers on the Affordable Housing Act (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 9 Sept 2026, 06:00