Short-Term Rentals:
from the Cities to the EU

Understanding the housing crisis: the role of STRs in European cities

An increasing number of European cities are facing a deepening housing crisis. The mass expansion of short-term rentals (STRs) has significantly disrupted local housing markets. In many urban areas, entire residential units are being removed from long-term rental markets in favour of more profitable short stays, pushing up prices and displacing local residents. This shift is not just economic—it affects the social fabric of neighbourhoods, leading to gentrification, community disruption, and the erosion of affordable housing.

Recognizing the urgency, MEPs Pierfrancesco Maran and Laura Ballarín Cereza of the S&D Group have highlighted housing—and particularly STRs—as a priority political issue by organising an important event: “Addressing Short-Term Rentals: from the Cities to the EU”.

Especially in major European cities, local authorities are under increasing pressure to respond to the growing imbalance between residential needs and tourist accommodation. However, regulation remains fragmented. While some cities have introduced local restrictions—like registration systems, caps on nights, or zoning limits—these measures often lack robust enforcement due to legal uncertainty, insufficient data access, and limited institutional support.

For the first time, housing is included in a European Commissioner’s portfolio and addressed by a dedicated special committee in the European Parliament. Responding to the housing crisis is one of the political priorities of the Socialists and Democrats Group, working on it we presented on 14 May the “S&D Study on Short-Term Accommodation Rentals in the EU”, which analyzes the current legal framework, outlines best practices from cities, and explores pathways for coordinated EU action.

The event wants to be a first step to build a dialogue between European cities and EU Institutions to establish a more efficient and coherent European legal framework to address STR.

This event aimed to build on that work by addressing three key questions:

How is the mass proliferation of STRs affecting housing access in cities like Barcelona, Paris, and Dublin?
What strategies have these cities adopted so far, and what are their expectations moving forward?
What role can and should the European Union play to support cities and ensure the right to housing is protected?

The exchange between cities and EU institutions is essential. Local authorities are on the frontlines of this crisis, but they cannot face it alone. A coordinated European approach is needed—one that balances economic freedom with social responsibility, and ensures housing remains a right.