Barcelona: EHHA Files Complaint to EU Over Catalan Short-Term Rental Rules

Barcelona, Spain.

The European Holiday Home Association (EHHA) recently filed a complaint with the European Commission, challenging the Catalan Housing Decree (3/2023), which aims to regulate short-term rentals within the region. The EHHA is the voice of short-term rental accommodation (STR) in Europe.

The decree was introduced in Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain, where Barcelona is located. The EHHA argues that the regulations are disproportionate and violate EU law, particularly the EU’s Services Directive, which mandates that such rules be justified, non-discriminatory, and proportionate.

The EHHA warns that the decree could harm families dependent on rental income and damage local economies. The association also disputes claims that short-term rentals are the primary cause of housing shortages and overtourism, citing other contributing factors like migration, aging populations, and insufficient housing investment.

Secretary General Viktorija Molnar highlighted the need for evidence-based policymaking, criticizing the decree for being adopted urgently without public consultation or solid evidence.

“We are disappointed that the Catalan Housing Decree was based on assumptions rather than factual data,” Molnar said.

Photo source: Airbnb

The European Commission has already raised concerns with Spanish authorities about the decree’s compliance with EU law. The EHHA hopes the Commission will initiate a formal infringement procedure.

Molnar called on the Catalan government to reconsider the decree, urging swift action to address the law’s unfair provisions. “We are convinced that EU law has not been respected,” she stated, urging the European Commission to take necessary steps to ensure compliance.

The European Holiday Home Association (www.ehha.eu) was founded in 2013 to give a voice to the short-term rental industry. The EHHA’s members range from national associations representing property owners and/or property managers, online short-term rental platforms and companies that provide ancillary services to the short-term rental accommodation providers. Its members operate across European Union countries. Greece’s Short-Term Accommodation Managers Association (STAMA) is a member of the EHHA.