Representatives of the Eurocities, met with European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager last Thursday, to request stronger regulations on Airbnb-style short-term rentals.
Mayors and city representatives are seeking EU cooperation in order to counter the harmful impact of short term holiday rentals on the housing market and make neighbourhoods more liveable.
Eurocities says locals in Europe are increasingly expressing concerns about the nuisances caused by short-term rentals. In addition to the negative effects on the liveability of some neighborhoods and rising prices, there also report noise disturbance, health hazards and even the gradual disappearance of convenience stores.
The group including Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Bordeaux, Brussels, Cologne, Florence, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Krakow, London , Milan, Munich, Paris, Porto, Prague, Utrecht, Valencia, Vienna and Warsaw expects support from the European Union on legal regulations.
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris said:
“We are not against the platforms, but they must abide with local and national regulations. It is time for a new European regulatory approach that serves first and foremost the general interest, which is for us accessibility of housing and the liveability in our cities.”
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President, European Commission commented:
“Better cooperation between platforms and public authorities will be a prerequisite for a proper enforcement of the Digital Services Act. It will provide a modern and harmonised regulatory framework, and take account of the needs of national and local administrations and compliance with local rules, while providing a predictable environment for innovative digital services.”
