Representatives of 18 tourist cities aim to introduce new legal framework against Airbnb

Municipalities say property prices are rising because of these platforms and people are having trouble finding homes to rent. Representatives of 18 tourist cities, including Paris, Barcelona, Florence and Berlin, met with EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager to introduce a new legal framework for these sites, Euronews reported.

Some cities have imposed restrictions on short leases and decided to fight illegal leases. But it is believed that it will not be possible to fight companies such as Airbnb without the creation of a legal framework before the EU.

The city of Paris had sued Airbnb and Wimdu for failing to operate as traditional residential rental companies. But last December the European Court of Justice turned down France’s request. Said cities require the authority to limit the number of annual overnight stays for tenants .

The Eurocities Alliance wants the EU to force platforms for them to share rental data with local authorities, as part of the Digital Services Act drafted by Vestager’s office. Tenants are also being asked to limit the number of annual overnight stays.

The companies in question, on the other hand, say that they do not rent houses, only get landlords and tenants together.