New EU Airbnb Rules 2026: What Travellers Need to Know Before Booking Holiday Apartments

Introduction

Booking a holiday apartment in Europe has become increasingly popular among international travellers. From apartments overlooking the canals of Amsterdam to coastal accommodation in Portugal and Croatia, online platforms have made it easier to find places to stay across the continent.

However, the European Union has introduced new rules designed to make the short-term rental market more transparent.

Since 20 May 2026, Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 has applied across the EU. It establishes a common framework for collecting and sharing information about short-term accommodation rentals offered through online platforms.

The objective is to help authorities understand the rental market, improve transparency and support better tourism and housing policies.

But does this mean every Airbnb host in Europe must register? Will travellers need to provide additional documents? And could some listings disappear?

Here is what travellers and accommodation providers should know.

1. What are the new EU short-term rental rules?

The new framework is based on Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, which was adopted in April 2024 and became applicable on 20 May 2026.

It focuses on the collection and sharing of information about short-term accommodation offered through online rental platforms.

The regulation covers furnished accommodation rented for short periods, including:

• Private holiday apartments.
• Houses rented to tourists.
• Individual rooms.
• Other furnished short-term accommodation offered for payment.

The framework is designed to make registration and data-sharing systems more consistent when national or local authorities decide to introduce them.

It does not automatically create a universal registration requirement for every holiday rental in Europe.

2. Do all Airbnb hosts now need to register?

This is one of the most important details.

No. The EU regulation does not require every short-term rental host in every EU location to register automatically.

Individual countries, regions and municipalities can decide whether to establish registration procedures.

However, where a registration procedure applies, it must follow the EU framework.

This means hosts may need to:

• Submit information about their accommodation.
• Complete the applicable registration procedure.
• Receive a unique registration number.
• Provide that number to the relevant online platform.
• Keep their accommodation information accurate and updated.

Registration procedures must be online and free where possible, or available at a reasonable and proportionate cost.

The exact requirements depend on the location of the property.

3. What changes for Airbnb and other booking platforms?

Online short-term rental platforms will have additional responsibilities in areas covered by the relevant registration and data-reporting arrangements.

These include:

Displaying registration numbers

Where registration is required, platforms must collect and display the relevant registration number on accommodation listings.

Checking listing information

Platforms must carry out proportionate checks, including random checks, to help identify invalid or misused registration numbers.

Sharing booking information

Where the relevant data-reporting requirements apply, platforms must transmit information to the competent public authorities through national digital systems.

This can include:

• The accommodation’s registration number.
• The property’s address.
• The listing’s web address.
• The number of nights booked.
• The number of guests who stayed.

The regulation also provides simplified reporting arrangements for qualifying small and micro platforms.

4. Could some holiday rental listings disappear?

Potentially, yes.

Where a registration system applies, authorities can check whether accommodation providers comply with the applicable requirements.

If a registration number is invalid or a host does not meet the relevant obligations, authorities can take enforcement action.

In certain circumstances, authorities may request that online platforms remove or disable access to non-compliant listings.

This is intended to improve transparency and discourage unlawful or misleading accommodation advertisements.

However, it does not mean that all unregistered holiday apartments across Europe will automatically disappear.

The rules depend on the registration and enforcement arrangements in the relevant location.

5. What does this mean for tourists visiting Europe?

For ordinary travellers, the regulation does not introduce a new European tourist visa, an additional border check or a universal accommodation registration document.

Its main purpose is to regulate information-sharing between accommodation platforms and public authorities.

Nevertheless, travellers may notice some practical differences when booking accommodation in locations where registration requirements apply.

For example:

• More listings may display official registration numbers.
• Platforms may check accommodation details more carefully.
• Some listings may be removed if they do not meet local requirements.
• Booking information may be used more effectively by public authorities.

For visitors, this could make it easier to identify compliant accommodation.

However, the regulation does not guarantee that every listing is safe or suitable. Travellers should still check reviews, cancellation policies, payment arrangements and the identity of their accommodation provider.

6. Which European countries are affected?

The regulation establishes a common framework for EU member states.

However, implementation of local registration and data-reporting arrangements depends on decisions made by national, regional and municipal authorities.

This is particularly important because European destinations have different tourism markets and accommodation regulations.

For example:

Spain

Tourist accommodation requirements can differ between autonomous communities and municipalities. Travellers should check the relevant regional or local rules.

France

Local authorities may impose requirements on certain furnished tourist accommodation, particularly in areas with housing pressures.

Portugal

Short-term accommodation providers are subject to national rules governing local accommodation. Hosts should check the applicable registration requirements.

Italy

Tourist accommodation providers must follow the relevant national and regional requirements, including applicable identification and reporting procedures.

Austria

Implementation decisions can differ between federal provinces. Austria’s federal ministry has indicated that the EU framework was not initially being implemented in any province on 20 May 2026.

These examples show why travellers and hosts should not assume that identical registration requirements apply everywhere.

7. Will accommodation prices become cheaper?

The new regulation does not directly introduce price controls or require hosts to reduce their rental prices.

Its purpose is to improve transparency and provide authorities with better information about short-term accommodation activity.

However, better data could help local authorities understand:

• How many properties are being used for short-term rentals.
• Which areas experience high tourism demand.
• How many nights visitors are booking.
• Where rental activity may be affecting local housing markets.

Authorities may use this information when developing future housing and tourism policies.

Whether this eventually affects accommodation prices will depend on separate national and local decisions.

8. Why is the EU introducing these rules?

Short-term accommodation has grown significantly because of online booking platforms.

These services create opportunities for property owners, tourists and local businesses. However, rapid growth can also create challenges for residential housing markets and popular tourist destinations.

The EU wants to establish a more consistent approach to data collection and sharing.

The regulation aims to:

• Improve transparency in the short-term rental market.
• Support better enforcement of local requirements.
• Provide authorities with reliable tourism data.
• Help cities understand accommodation demand.
• Encourage fairer competition between accommodation providers.

According to the European Commission, guests spent approximately 951.6 million nights in short-term rental accommodation booked through online platforms in 2025.

This demonstrates the scale of the sector and why better information matters.

9. What should travellers check before booking?

If you are planning a European holiday, a few simple checks can help you avoid problems.

Before confirming your accommodation:

1. Check whether the property is listed on a reputable platform.
2. Look for a registration number if local rules require one.
3. Read recent guest reviews.
4. Confirm the property’s exact location.
5. Review cancellation and refund conditions.
6. Avoid making payments outside the platform without understanding the risks.
7. Check the accommodation provider’s contact information.

If you are booking in a city with strict local rental rules, review the official tourism or municipal website for additional requirements.

10. What happens next?

The EU short-term rental regulation is already applicable.

Member states and relevant authorities are responsible for establishing the necessary registration and data-sharing arrangements where they choose to use them.

The European Commission will evaluate the regulation by 20 May 2031.

This future review will help assess its impact on transparency, enforcement, the accommodation market and cooperation between authorities.

The rules are therefore an important step towards a more transparent European short-term rental sector, but their practical impact will continue to depend on how individual destinations implement them.

Final Thoughts

The EU’s new short-term rental framework is an important development for Europe’s tourism industry.

By improving registration procedures and data-sharing arrangements, the regulation aims to help authorities understand the growth of holiday rentals and manage tourism more effectively.

For international travellers, the biggest takeaway is simple: check your accommodation carefully and look for the required registration information where local rules apply.

The new regulation does not mean every Airbnb listing in Europe needs the same registration or that all unregistered properties are automatically illegal.

As European destinations continue adapting their tourism rules, checking local requirements before booking will remain essential.

Would you prefer staying in a hotel or booking a private holiday apartment when travelling around Europe? Tell us in the comments!

Official Sources

1. European Commission — New rules bring increased transparency to the short-term rentals sector
2. Your Europe — Short-term accommodation rules in the EU
3. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2024/1028
4. Austrian Federal Ministry — EU Short-Term Rental Regulation

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and travel awareness. Short-term rental requirements vary by country, region and municipality. Always check the relevant local rules and official accommodation information before booking.