EU to Regulate STRs

12/22/2025

The European Commission announced its first EU-wide plan to regulate short-term rentals (STRs) to tackle the growing affordable housing crisis. Legislation, expected by December 2026, aims to give local authorities legal certainty to manage STRs on platforms without outright bans. Measures could include caps on rental nights in housing-stressed areas. The plan also addresses speculation, allowing member states to analyze property ownership trends and offer subsidies for affordable housing. Rising rents and house prices have increasingly priced out key workers and families, particularly in cities. The framework is intended as guidance rather than mandatory rules, while a €375 billion investment in social and affordable housing by 2029 complements the initiative.

The Guardian (United Kingdom) (12/16/25) Jennifer Rankin