Global Regulatory Notes (16)
Know the latest on STRs across the Globe. Australia reports case study; Spain reviews enforcement; Oro-Medonte, Ontario debates zoning; Essex, Ontario discusses accommodation tax; Ostend, Belgium prepares cap; Christchurch, New Zealand. READ MORE.
Australia
University of South Australia researchers say governments may be misfiring in their approach to housing by targeting short-term rentals with bans and restrictions.
Their analysis, timed as a state parliamentary review of STRs nears its conclusions, finds that restrictions do not significantly boost housing supply or ease rents, while damaging tourism and shifting benefits to hotels. The team suggests alternative strategies are needed, pointing to incentives like Western Australia’s $10,000 payment scheme to return STRs to the long-term market as more effective than caps such as those in NSW and Byron Bay.
Peter O’Connor
Spain
Short-term rentals are reshaping Spain’s rural economy, but policymakers are being warned that existing regulations don’t fit the realities of small villages.
New research by Afi shows that rural tourism drew 13 million visitors last year, generating more than €5.5 billion and sustaining local shops, restaurants, and jobs. Platforms like Airbnb have been key in opening up places without hotel infrastructure, yet current rules are creating unnecessary obstacles for rural hosts.
The report suggests exempting towns under 1,000 residents from city-style planning laws, where STRs make up just 0.6% of homes and don’t threaten long-term housing. Recommendations also include streamlining bureaucracy, prioritizing rural tourism projects for funding, and supporting digital skills and green renovations.
Oro-Medonte, Ontario
Oro-Medonte’s long-running short-term rental fight comes to a head as council hears reports that both strengthen licensing rules and reopen zoning for debate.
Planning staff recommend moving forward with a licensing bylaw to give the township stronger enforcement powers but also outline five possible zoning approaches including controversial options to legalize STRs in all residential areas, either permanently or temporarily. The options stem from recent court rulings that affirmed STRs are not permitted under current zoning but left questions over what constitutes “commercial accommodation.”
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Essex, Ontario
Essex councillors are weighing the introduction of a municipal accommodation tax, following the lead of dozens of Ontario communities that already levy the fee on short-term stays.
The proposed tax, set between 4% and 6%, would be applied to visitors staying 29 days or less, with revenue shared equally between the town and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island. Depending on the rate chosen, each partner could collect up to $147,000 a year to support local projects. If approved, Essex would next study the feasibility, engage stakeholders, and draft a bylaw, with the tax expected to take effect by March 2026.
Ostend, Belgium
Ostend is preparing to cap and in some districts outright ban Airbnb rentals, with Mayor John Crombez confirming that property owners will soon face the same taxes as hotels.
The city, which sees its population nearly triple during peak tourism, argues that unchecked short-term rentals drive up housing costs and undermine quality of life for permanent residents. The move follows a broader crackdown across Belgium: Ghent, Bruges, Brussels, and Antwerp have already restricted platforms, while the Flemish government is pushing for stricter data-sharing rules to identify violators. Enforcement is intensifying as well—Brussels recently clawed back up to €2 million in unpaid tourist taxes from Airbnb hosts.
Christchurch, New Zealand
Christchurch is stepping up enforcement of its short-term rental rules after issuing just two $300 fines in the past year despite dozens of complaints.
Council data shows 18 operators were found to be non-compliant, leading some to shut down, while others applied for consent or registered with the city. With more than 2,400 Airbnb listings estimated across Christchurch but only 64 currently consented, critics argue enforcement has been too light. In response, the city has now hired a dedicated officer to proactively monitor compliance, marking a shift from its previous complaint-driven approach.
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Crystel
READ: 🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Cape Coral, FL
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