In Europe, they're advancing: the restrictions on Airbnb that could cost us all dearly

The European Commission has proposed a new framework allowing local authorities to limit short-term rentals in areas where they harm housing availability. In Spain, 65,000 illegal listings were removed from Airbnb; in Budapest, short-term rentals were banned in the sixth district; and in Barcelona, apartment licenses will not be renewed in 2028. The implication for tourists: reduced supply and pressure on prices.

The European Commission has proposed a new regulatory framework allowing local authorities to limit short-term rentals in areas where they harm housing availability and prices. The proposal, which still needs to go through a legislative process, provides a clearer legal framework for regulating the market. In Spain, as of July 2025, vacation apartments require a registration number; by the end of that month, about 65,000 illegal listings were removed from Airbnb and another 54,728 were identified as unregistered. In Budapest, short-term rentals were banned in the sixth district starting January 1, 2026. In Athens, a freeze on registering new properties in three urban quarters was extended until the end of 2026, and in Thessaloniki, the first quarter joined. In Barcelona, the municipality announced it will not renew the 10,101 existing licenses in 2028. The article notes that overnight stays booked through short-term platforms account for about a quarter of the tourist accommodation supply in the Union. The Israeli tourist may feel a reduction in supply in popular areas and pressure on prices, especially during peak periods. Attorney Ilan Leibovitch, a former Knesset member and international real estate expert, warns of legal risk in contracts that assume income from short-term rentals without addressing future restrictions.