Short-term rentals represent about a quarter of all tourist accommodation in the EU. Online platforms already pass on information about landlords to governments, but the rules on this vary from Member State to Member State. With a new draft regulation, the EU aims to provide a harmonized framework for the collection and sharing of this data.
The intention is that every room, house or apartment that is offered for rent on digital platforms will have a registration number. Landlords must display their numbers on the platforms, which must do random checks to make sure that information is correct. The platforms must also inform the authorities on a monthly basis about the number of overnight stays and guests.
According to the Swedish EU presidency, everyone benefits from these rules. “The landlords will have an easy registration procedure, the platforms will have unified rules about the information they must provide. Travelers will be better protected against fraud and governments will be able to regulate on the basis of accurate and reliable data,” said Minister Ebba Busch.
Member States have yet to reach an agreement on the draft regulation with the European Parliament, which has not yet set a position. In addition, a transitional period of two years is provided for.