According to the will of the EU countries, accommodation brokers such as Airbnb should in future share data with cities and municipalities in order to be better prepared for large tourist crowds, among other things. The responsible EU ministers in Brussels approved a corresponding legislative proposal by the EU Commission. In the EU, short-term rentals account for almost a quarter of all tourist accommodation.
Because of the mass influx of tourists, some cities had already become active. In 2020 Amsterdam introduced mandatory registration for Airbnb. The new requirements are intended to standardize the rules in the individual states. In addition to the platforms and authorities, hosts and travelers would also benefit from this, said Swedish Economics Minister Ebba Busch.
Hosts must register rooms with authorities
Specifically, it is intended, among other things, that hosts must register their rooms, apartments or houses with the authorities. This should also contribute to the security of users and fight fraud, it said. The online platforms would have to randomly check this registration and inform the authorities of missing registration numbers or incorrect information.
In addition, the providers should regularly communicate how many guests are staying and for how long. With the data, the authorities should be able to better control the rentals. Fairer competitive conditions are also to be created for other providers of accommodation such as hotels.
Better preparation for tourist influx
The aim of the EU Commission was also that cities and municipalities can better prepare for an influx of tourists. For example, offers such as waste disposal, but also opening hours of tourist information or timing of waste disposal should be better regulated.
The Federal Ministry of Economics welcomed the agreement reached by the ministers. “In this way, the member states can ensure fair competition and enforce their rights better,” said State Secretary Sven Giegold (Greens). The misappropriation of living space can be avoided and the interests of tenants can be protected.
Before the new rules can come into force, the EU states and the European Parliament still have to agree on a common position. A transitional period of two years is also planned.
