The Sharing Economy and Housing Affordability: What Impact? What Solutions?

Brussels, 22nd January 2019

The debate was organised by the Housing Solutions Platform and hosted by MEPs Marian Harkin (ALDE) and Brando Benifei (S&D) in the European Parliament, to respond to the controversy on the impact of the sharing economy on housing affordability.

Short-term rental platforms (such as Airbnb, HomeAway and others) have developed over the past few years thanks to technological developments. Their impact on cities and communities is starting to be analysed but remains disputed. The new business model, which enables private property owners to rent part or all of their apartments to guests, faces increasing controversy particularly as to its impact on housing prices. This Housing Solutions Platform debate proposed to gather cross sectoral actors and experts to discuss the claim and potential ways forward. Representatives from the P2P industry, academics, city representatives and European policy makers debated on the existing evidence and potential ways forwards in channeling the impact of the sharing economy on housing prices.

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Presentation slides from the event are available for download here:

Proserpio

Garcia-Lopez

Mari

Downey