Airbnb Rentals Could Face New Limits in EU Hotspots

Travellers booking Airbnb and other short-term rentals across the EU could face tighter local limits under a new European Commission proposal unveiled on 9 September. The plan would create a clearer EU framework for restricting holiday lets in areas suffering from housing pressure, potentially reducing rental supply in some popular destinations. The measures are still at proposal stage and require approval from EU countries and the European Parliament.

The proposal follows years of different local restrictions in destinations such as Barcelona, Paris and Venice, where authorities have tried to limit short-term rentals as housing costs climbed. Those rules have also triggered legal challenges over whether local measures are proportionate under EU law. Brussels now wants a common framework showing when restrictions can be justified, while leaving national, regional and local authorities to decide whether they actually introduce them.

Authorities would not be free to impose blanket limits without evidence. Before restricting short-term rentals on housing grounds, they would need to show significant harm to affordability or availability for at least three years and prove that less restrictive measures would not work as well. Any action must be targeted, necessary and proportionate. Under the proposal, restrictions introduced solely to protect housing affordability would not apply to rentals in a host’s primary residence.

What Could Change for Airbnb Bookings

• Where: EU areas formally identified as being under housing stress.
• Who it affects: Guests booking short-term rentals may see fewer properties where local authorities introduce restrictions.
• Main rule: Airbnb is not being banned across the EU. Any new limits would be introduced by individual countries, regions or cities.
• Before booking: Where local registration is required, check that the listing displays a registration number.
• Timing: The proposal still needs approval from EU countries and the European Parliament.
• Possible impact: Authorities could restrict non-primary-residence short-term rentals where the housing-stress criteria are met.

Current local rules still apply while Brussels works through the new proposal. Separate EU rules already applying since 20 May 2026 require platforms to display a registration number where local registration is mandatory. Before booking in cities with tight short-term rental rules, check that the listing complies with local registration requirements, particularly if the stay is several months away and local restrictions could change before arrival.