On Tuesday, March 19, STR-Belgium was invited by the Share the City team of perspective.brussels to participate in the Cross-Functional Working Group on the strategic orientations of the PRAS (Regional Land Use Plan). This is a vast and ambitious project whose challenge will be to find the right balance between the different priorities involved. STR-Belgium is, of course, closely monitoring the development of urban economies — of which the short-term rental sector is an integral part — and advocated for the following:
Alignment of PRAS definitions (urban planning regulation) with economic regulation (tourist accommodation ordinance of May 8, 2024 and its decree of March 24, 2016, soon to be replaced by the ordinance of February 1, 2024 (*) and its forthcoming implementing decrees) with regard to tourist accommodation. As a reminder, tourist accommodation — from an economic regulatory perspective — may include:
- a hotel
- an aparthotel
- a tourist residence
- homestay accommodation
- a social tourism accommodation centre
- a campsite
It is essential that definitions are properly aligned between urban planning and economic regulations, and that the PRAS has the appropriate — updated — level of granularity to fully play its role in urban governance and in balancing the mix of functions within the city.
Based on the definitions above, a proper assessment of the supply across the different categories of tourist accommodation is essential, as well as confronting this supply with demand, of which the largely clandestine market currently present in Brussels is a striking indicator. Short-term rental (categories “Tourist Residence” and “Homestay Accommodation” under Brussels tourist accommodation regulations) meets a need complementary to hotels and is strongly supported by European and international citizens, as evidenced by Eurostat data. From a socio-economic perspective, it would be very risky not to take this reality into account in Brussels, the Capital of Europe. Important: the overnight stay (not the accommodation unit) must be the measurement unit used to evaluate the adequacy between supply and demand.
Last but not least, a redefinition of compensation mechanisms adapted to the current economic context is needed, allowing — where necessary — a controlled deployment of short-term rentals according to the specific characteristics “neighbourhood by neighbourhood,” in order to move toward a proportional, justified and non-discriminatory balance between supply and demand.
It is crucial to set aside any ideological considerations in this process. To achieve this, environmental, social and economic parameters must be taken into account in order to scientifically identify an optimum in the interest of Brussels, its residents, European citizens and international visitors. Recent analyses from the OECD, IBSA, and the VUB study — which we also reference in our News section — are valuable sources contributing to this reflection in the search for an optimal model that will enable Brussels to achieve a competitive, innovative and sustainable tourism market while preserving the public interest.
STR-Belgium once again thanks perspective.brussels and the Share The City team for this invitation and remains at their disposal for the next stages of the process, whose overall timeline converges with other major developments that will transform the short-term rental sector by 2026, notably the European Union’s regulatory project.
(*) The sector is currently organizing a legal challenge before the Constitutional Court in the coming weeks.
