Source: European Union 2 Published on: 2026-05-21
New EU rules provided by Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, aimed at increasing transparency in the short-term rentals sector are now applying across Europe. Short-term accommodation rentals have grown rapidly across the EU, largely driven by online platforms, and now represent around one quarter of tourist accommodation offers.
While short-term rentals create new opportunities for hosts, tourists and local businesses, they can also place pressure on local communities, particularly in areas facing housing shortages and high tourism demand. The Regulation on short-term rentals introduces a common EU framework for the collection and sharing of data from hosts and online platforms.
It aims to support better policymaking, improve transparency in the sector and encourage the sustainable development of tourism. New transparency rules When Member States opt for the new rules, registration procedures introduced by national authorities must be fully online and user-friendly.
Hosts will receive a unique registration number for their property. Online platforms will be required to display and verify registration numbers and carry out random checks to help identify illegal listings. Public authorities will also be able to request the removal of non-compliant listings.
Platforms will share monthly data on guest stays and nights booked with public authorities through a Single Digital Entry Point established by each Member State. Simpler reporting obligations will apply to small and micro platforms.
Aggregated data collected under the Regulation will contribute to tourism statistics produced by Eurostat and support the development of innovative tourism-related services, while ensuring the protection of personal data. According to Eurostat, guests spent 951.6 million nights in short-term rental accommodation booked through online platforms in 2025.
The new framework is expected to improve transparency across the tourism sector, increase safety for tourists through the reduction of illegal listings and help local communities better manage the impact of short-term rental activity. The Regulation has been adopted in an “opt-in/opt-out” mode, meaning that Member States are not obliged to apply it.
However, if they introduce a registration system for STRs and/or request data from STR platforms, they must do so through this Regulation.