Europe Prepares New Law to Support Cities’ Airbnb Crackdowns

The European Union is preparing legislation that would help destinations crack down on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals. The new legislation, a central component of a forthcoming Affordable Housing Act, is expected to lay out a legal framework to help authorities manage short-term rentals and identify areas where the housing market is stressed. “The EU level can and must play a stronger role in supporting, coordinating, and amplifying national, regional and local efforts” to address the housing crisis, reads a December statement from the European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch. The commission is slated to discuss the mandate during a September 9 meeting, according to a preliminary agenda. European news website Euractiv on Friday published a leaked draft of the new legislation that offers more details on how authorities could restrict short-term rentals in areas facing housing pressure. A European Commission spok