The Airbnb platform believes that the regulation of short-term rentals proposed at the European level will make it easier for local authorities to have the necessary data “to fairly regulate the activity.”
Airbnb has expressed in a statement its commitment to the harmonization at the European level of the regulation of short-term rentals, taking advantage of the Spanish presidency of the EU Council, according to EFE.
Before the informal meeting of EU Tourism Ministers, convened this Tuesday in Palma by the Government of Spain with the aim of debating and proposing a roadmap towards more sustainable tourism, Airbnb considers that European regulation plays a key role in guarantee that objective.
The platform considers that it will make it easier for local authorities to have the necessary data “to fairly regulate the activity “protecting both families who need income from lodging, as well as the availability of long-term housing.”
Airbnb recalled that the European Commission launched its proposed regulation for short-term rentals in November last year to give authorities better access to data on activity, as long as local rules are clear and easy for users to comply with. hosts.
He adds that, with the regulations, for the first time platforms and local authorities will have clear guidelines on how to share data, enforce the rules and “make it easier for the rules to work for everyone.”
Airbnb supports the rapid adoption of the proposal under the Spanish Presidency and believes that Spain will continue to play a key role in the culmination of the negotiations of this text, which it hopes will be approved by the end of the year.
According to Airbnb’s Head of EU Public Policy, Georgina Browes, “the new EU rules give hope to many ordinary Europeans who depend on income from hosting to make ends meet, and to communities, by allowing them to put a stop to the activity of speculators.
“We are willing to collaborate with the authorities in Spain and throughout the EU to implement the proposal once finalized,” he promised.
In Spain, almost 8 out of 10 hosts only have one ad on the platform, an indicator that, for the most part, they are individuals or families who share their residence occasionally, or also a private room or a second residence when not They are using it.
The typical host in Spain earned around 4,750 euros in 2022, equivalent to more than two months of the average Spanish salary, the platform details.
According to Airbnb, around 45% of Spanish hosts find current short-term rental rules difficult to comply with and almost 70% of respondents support the EU proposal for clear and simple registration requirements.
More than 1.4 million Airbnb hosts are in the EU, more than any other region in the world, and more than 1.1 million of them share just one home on the platform. The typical EU host earned just under 4,000 euros in 2022, which is equivalent to more than two months of additional salary for the average EU household.