New EU Short-Term Rental Regulation: What Changes for Brussels Owners

Since 20 May 2026, a new European framework governs how short-term rental data is collected and shared. Here is what Brussels property owners need to know.

A European regulation now in force

Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 on data collection and sharing in the short-term rental sector has applied since 20 May 2026. Its goal: make the market more transparent by harmonising, across the Union, how accommodation is registered and how platforms transmit their data to the authorities. Each Member State nonetheless keeps its own housing and planning rules — the regulation governs data, not local policies.

A unique registration number

At the heart of the scheme is the unique registration number assigned to each property through an online procedure run by national or regional authorities. Platforms such as Airbnb or Booking will have to display and verify this number, and carry out random checks to spot non-compliant listings. In practice, a property without a valid number risks having its listing suspended.

Stronger data sharing

Platforms will have to send authorities monthly data on stays and the number of nights booked, via a Single Digital Entry Point set up by each Member State. Smaller platforms benefit from lighter reporting obligations. For owners, the message is clear: income and occupancy become far more visible to the administration.

What this actually changes in Brussels

In Brussels, registration was already mandatory: any rental from one night to 90 consecutive days must be declared with Brussels Economy and Employment, together with an urban-planning compliance certificate, as well as with Brussels Fiscality. Each property receives its own number, which is non-transferable when the property is sold. The new European framework does not replace these steps: it reinforces them by making the cross-checking of platform data more reliable. In other words, compliance is no longer optional — and owners who are already in order have nothing to fear.

Enforcement that relies on data

This increased transparency is part of a broader trend: Brussels authorities increasingly cross-check the data transmitted by platforms against their registers to identify undeclared accommodation, and control campaigns have been carried out in recent months. In the event of non-compliance, owners face fines that can be substantial and the recovery of taxes due. We recommend checking the exact amounts and procedures directly with Brussels Fiscality, as they change over time.

Our tips to stay worry-free

If you already rent out, check that your registration number is up to date and correctly shown on your listings. If you are just starting, build these steps in from the outset. To go further, see our guide on registering an Airbnb in Brussels and our complete regulation guide.

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