The European Union is working to launch a European registry for short-stay tourist accommodation to monitor the business of vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.
The single registry for the entire Union is part of a series of rules included in a draft European regulation, which has obtained the support of the 27 member states and is currently being debated in the European Parliament.
Once the new legislation is approved, owners of these accommodations will have to specify their identity, how many homes they have and where, and will receive an identification number, which will help eliminate publications of illegal listings.
Platforms will be required to randomly verify whether hosts have registered and whether the correct numbers are displayed. Public authorities will have the possibility to suspend registration numbers and ask platforms to remove hosts who do not comply with the rules.
The data obtained will allow for better public policies
Platforms will also have to share data on the number of nights rented and guests. Member States will monitor the application of this transparency framework and establish the relevant sanctions.
What the regulation ultimately seeks is to improve the capacity to carry out public policies in the face of the phenomenon of tourist rentals.
The registry will provide real information, for example, on the increase in population at specific times that can be used to provide better services such as greater capacity for garbage collection. It can also be taken into account when developing housing policies.
