Regulating short-term rentals: Joined cases C-724/18 and C-727/18 Cali Apartments

AuthorTania Pantazi
DOI10.1177/1023263X211014688
Published date01 August 2021
Date01 August 2021
Case Note
Regulating short-term rentals:
Joined cases C-724/18
and C-727/18 Cali Apartments
Tania Pantazi*,**
Abstract
The increase in short-term rentals via online platforms has captured the attention of scholars and
regulators. Short-term letting is now considered a considerable alternative to traditional tourist
accommodation contracts, challenging matters such as conditions in the housing market and
consumer protection. Online platforms, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and Tripadvisor,
now provide offers for short-term accommodation contracts along with traditional accom-
modation options (hotels, hostels, apartments). The recent decision of the European Court of
Justice in Joined cases C-724/18 and C-727/18 addresses for the first time the issue of regulation of
short-term rentals in Member States and evaluates a national authorization scheme in light of the
Services Directive. The present paper provides a brief background of European regulation affecting
short-term rentals and discusses the judgment and its implications for future developments.
Keywords
Short-term rentals, Airbnb, Services Directive, online platforms, collaborative economy
1. Introduction
The sharp increase of short-term rentals in recent years has been envisaged as a contributor to the
growth of the tourism sector in most European countries. At the same time, it has troubled national
regulators, authorities and citizens, as it has fostered serious unprecedented problems in cities, such
as rise of property prices, displacement of permanent residents and disruption to neighborhoods.
* Department of Economic Sciences, International Hellenic University, Serres, Greece
** Department of Business Administration, University of the Aegean, Chios, Greece
Corresponding author:
Tania Pantazi, Adjunct lecturer, Department of Economic Sciences, International Hellenic University, Terma Magnisias,
Serres 62124, Greece; Postdoctorate researcher, Department of Business Administration, University of the Aegean, Chios
82123, Greece.
E-mail: pantazitan@gmail.com
Maastricht Journal of European and
Comparative Law
ªThe Author(s) 2021
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1023263X211014688
maastrichtjournal.sagepub.com
MJ
MJ
2021, Vol. 28(4) 573–581

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT