European Economic
and Social Committee
Short-term rental initiative
Title
Short-term rental initiative
Background
Short-term rentals (STRs) have grown rapidly in recent years, now amounting to about a quarter of all tourist accommodation in the EU. While bringing opportunities for both guests and hosts, STRs can also represent a threat for local communities in popular tourist destinations. There is a need for regulation, but the lack of reliable and comparable data is a major hurdle to policy-making. The Commission is therefore proposing a regulation to harmonise and improve the framework for STR data generation and collection across the EU and to enhance transparency in the sector.
Key points
The EESC recommends:
- a simplified registration process with a uniform, pan-EU format;
- periodic impact assessments of STR activities. They should be carried out by local authorities to evaluate impacts on the local tourism potential, the life of local residents and the housing market, the cost of living, employment, businesses and pollution in the area;
- a system of insurance policies to be taken up by hosts as an alternative to authorisation criteria. These insurance policies, which would cover the bulk of risks arising from STR activities, would leave it to insurers to verify hosts' compliance with the rules.
- a standardised approach steered by the European institutions regarding the level of information required for all STR activities. This would help national and local authorities take decisions in line with the interests of the communities concerned, facilitate data sharing, boost compliance and enable authorities to take appropriate action based on analyses at EU and local level.
Additional information
EESC section responsible: Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)
Opinion type: mandatory referral
Rapporteur: Marinel Dănuț Muresan (Employers - Group I / Romania)
Reference: COM(2022) 571 final
Date of adoption by section: 27 January 2023
Results of the vote: 54 in favour, none against, 3 abstentions
Date of adoption by the plenary session: 22-23 February 2023
Results of the plenary session vote: 190 in favour, none against, 4 abstentions
Contacts:
Daniela Marangoni
Press Officer
Tel.: + 32 2 546 8422
email: daniela.marangoni@eesc.europa.euSilvia Staffa
Policy Officer
Tel.: +32 2 546 8378
email: silvia.staffa@eesc.europa.eu