Housing Second homes in tourist activities and tense areas Europe Wants to Limit Buying
Brussels wants to address the serious problem of the housing crisis across Europe, and today it has introduced a new law that aims, among other things, to reduce tourist housing activity and the purchase of second homes in tense areas.
Image of a tourist housing identification plate in Donostia.
Toaddress the housing problem, Brussels has today proposed reducing tourist rents in areas under stress and limiting second homes by providing legal guarantees to local authorities.
The European Commission has presented the Affordable Housing Bill, which sets out for the first time the common criteria for action by governments and/or municipalities in the event of non-compliance.
The text must now be discussed by the European Parliament and the European Council before it enters into force.
June day, the main keys tothe rule:
- There are two activities that you want to limit: second homes in tense areas and tourist rentals. The law will not regulate long-term rentals, buildings, urban planning or platform registration.
- In order to establish the term tense zone, the average price of housing must be eight times higher than the income of the population, and no price reductions will be anticipated for at least three years.
- Such measures shall last for five years and shall be subject to review thereafter.
- Local authorities shall be advised to implement plans for the construction of affordable housing, requiring the facilitation of permits and land.
- Governments which already have legislation in place for the declaration of a tense area shall not be obliged to comply with European regulations.
The groups, divided.
The text that Europe has put on the table today has given rise to a wide range of views, generally opposed by the right-wing bloc and regarded by the left as a step forward.
Borja Giménez (PP) , an MEP and one of the rapporteurs for the rule, has strongly criticised the proposal, which, in his words, is a bill built on 'ideological prejudices' and 'populism'.
Forits part, the Socialist Group has welcomed the move, considering it to be the right decision to give municipalities and governments the opportunity to intervene. However, in order to make housing accessible to all citizens, Europe considers it essential to strengthen funding.
The Aibnb platformhas also welcomed the rule because it will establish legal guarantees, but believes that it will not solve the housing problem. It has put data on the map: 1% of all EU homes are for tourist rent and one in five homes are empty.
In line with Eustat data, the price of housing in Europe has increased by 65% since 2015, while rents have increased by 22%.
Similarly, between 2018 and 2024 tourism rental increased by 93%.
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