This week MEPs voted in favour of the trilogue deal on data collection on short-term rentals. With this regulation, the collection and access to data on short-term rental accommodation services will be improved, allowing local authorities to enforce the rules in place. The Greens/EFA Group welcomes the deal reached in trialogue, which includes harmonising registration requirements for hosts, clarifying rules to ensure registration numbers are displayed and checked, an obligation for the platforms to combat illegal rentals by performing random checks and streamlining data-sharing between online platforms and public authorities.

Kim van Sparrentak, Greens/EFA MEP and rapporteur on the file, comments:

“Occasional renting out of rooms went from being a way for people to make some extra cash to a full-blown business model driven by investors. By taking houses off the market and driving up prices, short-term rentals have a negative impact on affordable housing in big cities and touristic areas, and put the liveability of neighbourhoods under pressure.

“Some cities have already introduced rules to address this issue, but platforms have been refusing to share data with authorities. This regulation lays the foundation for the collection and access to such data to be improved, will empower cities all over Europe to enforce their local rules and contribute to better access to affordable housing. This is a big step for more liveable cities. We cannot let online platforms turn our cities into empty shells solely destined for corporate profit.”

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