Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, in a written answer on 28 July 2026, indicated that the European Commission is considering binding measures on short-term tourist rentals in areas officially designated as under housing stress, as part of the forthcoming Affordable Housing Act. The answer, responding to a question from MEP Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), marks a shift toward concrete EU action to help member states and cities limit short-term rentals with legal certainty, directly impacting local residents facing rising housing costs and the short-term rental industry.
The Commissioner acknowledged that while the housing crisis is mainly structural, increases in short-term rental activity have pushed up rental and sale prices in several European cities. He recalled that the Commission adopted the European Affordable Housing Plan in December 2025, which set ten key action areas. Among them, the Commission will propose an Affordable Housing Act in 2026 to help public authorities identify areas under housing stress using publicly available data and enable them to take proportionate measures to safeguard housing availability and affordability, in line with subsidiarity. Jørgensen stated that the Commission is currently assessing different policy options to support local decision-making and increase legal certainty, while fully respecting member state competence in housing policy.
The answer also noted that the Regulation on Short-term Rentals, applicable since 20 May 2026, already brings more transparency through harmonised rules on host registration and data sharing between digital platforms and national authorities. This regulation provides a data foundation for future restrictions.
The reply contains a concrete commitment to propose binding measures in the Affordable Housing Act, but stops short of specifying the exact mechanism or timeline beyond 2026. The policy orientation is toward enabling local restrictions with EU backing, balancing housing affordability with the economic benefits of tourism. Institutional follow-up is expected with the legislative proposal later in 2026, which will likely trigger debate between member states favouring local control and those prioritising tourism industry interests.