Airbnb has stated its readiness to comply with the new European regulation on data sharing for short-term rentals, which comes into force on May 20, 2026, while expressing concerns about whether all Member States will be prepared to respond in time.
In an open letter to the European Commission, Giorgos Mavros, Head of Government Affairs for the European Union at Airbnb, emphasized that the company remains committed to supporting European citizens in responsibly sharing their homes, while also providing the necessary data to governments and local authorities.
As he noted, the new EU regulation on short-term rentals aims to harmonize and expand practices that are already in place. The platform has developed tools such as the City Portal, through which more than 450 European local authorities can monitor listings and identify non-compliant activity.
At the same time, the company has already adapted its operations in countries such as Spain, Italy, and France, investing significant resources to support national host registration systems and facilitate the regular exchange of data.
Are Member States ready?
However, according to Mr. Mavros, the successful implementation of the regulation requires a corresponding level of mobilization from Member States and the European Commission. In particular, Airbnb is calling for:
- clear implementation timelines from each Member State,
- harmonized technical standards to avoid the creation of 27 different systems, and
- proportionality rules that will prevent blanket bans on short-term rentals.
Mr. Mavros stressed that short-term rentals are a critical pillar for the economy and the functioning of European cities. According to company data, in 2025 more than 114 million guests were hosted through the platform in the EU, contributing €53.2 billion to GDP and supporting over 904,000 jobs.
At the same time, short-term rentals provide affordable accommodation options, particularly for families, while also serving broader housing needs—from students and workers to patients traveling for medical reasons or citizens affected by disasters.
Blanket restrictions seen as counterproductive
According to Airbnb, blanket restrictions imposed in certain European cities put these benefits at risk without effectively addressing the housing crisis.
The company welcomes increased transparency through data sharing under the new regulation, noting that this is a first step toward shaping more targeted and balanced policies.
In closing, Mr. Mavros expressed the expectation that future EU-level initiatives, such as the proposed framework for affordable housing, will contribute to the development of regulations that preserve the benefits of short-term rentals for European societies, while also addressing housing challenges.
