STR rules: Athens to LA

Los Angeles is considering loosening Airbnb rules just as Athens is keeping its crackdown in place through the end of 2026. (laist.com) (ekathimerini.com) In Los Angeles, two Airbnb-backed ideas appeared in Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed fiscal 2026-27 budget released April 20. One would create a limited vacation-rental program through Dec. 31, 2028; the other would let payers prepay transient occupancy tax to help fund infrastructure. (mayor.lacity.gov) (laist.com) LAist reported that, if the City Council approves the plan, Airbnb hosts could rent second homes and investment properties through 2028, reversing a restriction Los Angeles has kept since 2018. Airbnb said the tax prepayment piece could generate tens of millions of dollars more per year for the city. (laist.com 1) (laist.com 2) Athens is taking the opposite path. Greece’s government agreed to extend the ban on new short-term rental permits in Athens’ first, second and third municipal districts, with the measure now set to stay in force at least until the end of 2026. (ekathimerini.com) The stated reason in Athens is housing supply. Kathimerini reported that officials fear lifting the restriction would trigger another wave of increases in long-term rents in the capital’s center, where affordable housing is already scarce. (ekathimerini.com) The Athens numbers are messy. AirDNA data cited by Kathimerini showed active short-term rental listings in central Athens still rose 11% in 2025 to 14,326 units, even after the registration ban took effect. (ekathimerini.com) Analysts told Kathimerini that many owners rushed to secure registry numbers before the restrictions were announced, then brought those homes to market later. The same report said a central Athens short-term rental averaged about 1,740 euros a month in gross income in 2025, versus about 700 euros for a comparable long-term lease. (ekathimerini.com) Trust and enforcement are also part of the story in California. On April 14, federal prosecutors said Shray Goel of Calabasas and Shaunik Raheja of Denver pleaded guilty in a bait-and-switch short-term rental scheme that used fake host names, false addresses and double bookings. (ktla.com) Los Angeles has also sued Airbnb over wildfire-era price gouging and what the city describes as misleading “verified” listings. KTLA reported the complaint alleges some hosts used false or nonexistent identities and some listed addresses were inaccurate or fabricated; Airbnb said it disputes the allegations. (ktla.com) That leaves Los Angeles debating whether more legal short-term rentals would raise revenue before the 2028 Olympics, while Athens is extending limits because existing curbs have not yet pulled enough homes back into the long-term market. (laist.com) (ekathimerini.com)