A new pan-European study conducted on behalf of Airbnb highlights the urgent need for more flexible housing solutions across Europe. According to the findings, more than 8 out of 10 Europeans have required temporary accommodation due to relocation for a specific period of time.
The research points to a “structural gap” in the European housing system: the space between traditional tourism and permanent residency. This gap creates significant hurdles for those needing housing for shorter or transitional periods, such as students, remote workers, patients, or families in flux.
The drivers behind the need for temporary housing
According to the data, short-term rentals (STRs) are emerging as a primary solution to these needs, with the majority of respondents viewing them as the most practical and affordable option for temporary stays.
The main reasons Europeans turn to such solutions are:
Searching for long-term housing (27%)
Studies and education (24%)
Work or professional relocation (24%)
Access to medical care (23%)
Professional training/vocational courses (21%)
As noted by George Mavros, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for the EU, the public debate on housing often overlooks this specific category of needs.
“The housing discussion in Europe has a ‘blind spot’: the needs that sit between tourism and permanent residency. For millions of people, temporary housing is not a luxury, but a necessity,” he emphasized.
Students and international mobility
One of the most prominent examples involves student housing. Many European cities face a chronic deficit in student dormitories, making it particularly difficult for international students who arrive in a new city without immediate access to permanent housing.
In these cases, furnished short-term rental apartments often bridge the transitional period until long-term accommodation is secured. In this context, Airbnb has launched targeted initiatives, such as the “Student Housing Fund” in Berlin.
Accommodation for medical reasons
The need for temporary housing also spikes during medical-related travel. Research in Italy shows that approximately 1 million patients travel to a different region for treatment every year.
Similar trends are recorded in other European countries. For instance, around the La Pitié-Salpêtrière and Necker Enfants hospitals in Paris, there are over 2,200 Airbnb listings within a 1-km radius. These hosted approximately 25,000 guests in 2025, many of whom traveled for medical reasons.
Support during natural disasters
Short-term rentals also serve as a crisis management tool. Airbnb.org, a non-profit founded by Airbnb, has provided more than 1.6 million free nights of temporary housing to over 250,000 people since 2020.
These actions include hosting those displaced by natural disasters, such as recent efforts in France in partnership with the Fédération nationale des sapeurs-pompiers de France to house families affected by Storm Nils.
Major events and tourism
The sharing economy allows cities to temporarily scale their tourism capacity during major events without massive investments in permanent infrastructure.
A characteristic example was the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the largest hosting event in the platform’s history. Nearly 700,000 guests from 160 countries were hosted in the broader Paris region, while the available supply of accommodations increased by 35%.
Economic contribution to Europe
On an economic level, the activity of Airbnb hosts has recorded a significant impact. In 2025, over 114 million guest arrivals were recorded across the European Union, contributing €53.2 billion to the EU’s GDP and supporting more than 904,000 jobs.
At the same time, hosting is a vital source of supplemental income for many Europeans. According to a survey of EU hosts, 80% rent out only one property, while nearly half (47%) state that the income from hosting helps them maintain their primary home.
The housing policy debate
This discussion takes on particular importance as the European Commission prepares its new Affordable Housing Action Plan. Stakeholders from various sectors will submit proposals regarding housing availability, affordability, and the impact of tourism.
According to data cited by Airbnb, the impact of short-term rentals on Europe’s total housing stock remains limited. In 2025, entire-home listings rented out frequently (more than 120 nights per year) accounted for just 0.13% of the total housing stock in the EU. Even in the Union’s 10 largest cities, this figure averages only 0.37%.
Conversely, the vast number of vacant properties represents a major issue. Across the EU, up to 1 in 5 homes remains unoccupied. In countries like Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, and Spain alone, there are estimated to be over 14 million vacant homes.
