Short-term rentals are increasingly being linked to rising rents. But is that correct?

STR Unpacked · Feb 20, 2026 · 1m

Europe’s STR debate is turning political.

Across the EU, short-term rentals are increasingly being linked to rising rents, housing shortages, and overtourism in major cities.

The European Commission has already adopted new rules requiring host registration and platform data sharing from 2026 and pressure is building for cities to go even further with caps and zoning controls.

Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com are firmly in the spotlight.

But here’s the real question for operators:

Are STRs truly the root cause of Europe’s housing crisis

or are we becoming a convenient political scapegoat?…