A single European criterion will define the areas under housing stress in which it will be possible to limit short-term rentals.

This is the central point of the "Affordable Housing Act" regulation - seen by ANSA - that the European Commission will present on September 9th.

An area subject to housing stress, the directive states, is such if "the average transaction price of a dwelling in the area in question, in relation to the average disposable income of the population of that area (the 'price-to-income ratio'), is equal to or above the threshold of 8" and if "the price-to-income ratio has increased over the last ten years".

The Italian Association of Short-Term Rental Managers (AIGAB) is protesting: "We have learned that in the coming days, likely on September 9th, Dan Jorgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, will present the Affordable Housing Act, the EU Regulation on short-term rentals and housing stress. However, it would be more accurate to say 'against short-term rentals,' because the Regulation in question, directly applicable without national transposition, would appear to provide national, regional, and municipal authorities with a common procedure for limiting short-term rentals and the purchase/use of properties not used as primary residences in 'housing stress areas.' "

Consequences: if mayors have the power to introduce restrictions on short-term rentals, the association explains, half a million families have invested in short-term rentals and could see their source of income reduced or choose to resort to informal employment. The business ecosystem (property managers, cleaning companies, property services, software companies, vacation rental industries, etc.) risks receiving a fatal blow. In many areas of the country, property values are supported by their ability to generate income. If homes cannot be rented out, they only have value for those who live in them as their primary residence, so the measure would have a detrimental effect on the entire Italian real estate sector. At Aigab, we have already been working for some time to once again defend the fundamental rights of Italian property owners and businesses.