Regulation of short-term rentals in Lisbon: strike a balance between tourism dependence and urban life

The financial crisis was a critical factor for the development of short-term rentals (STR) in Lisbon, as it was in other Southern European cities. However, the project for transforming the city that predates the crisis is another important factor. STRs became a public issue associated with unaffordable housing, neighborhood disturbances and touristification in 2016. Using a qualitative methodology, this article explores the regulatory process for STRs in Lisbon and the solutions - mainly territorial bans, a symbolically powerful political outcome conveying the idea of stringency prioritized in cities in which the impact of tourism was most evident - and conditions explaining them.

Automated summary

This article explores the regulatory process and solutions for short-term rentals (STR) in Lisbon, including territorial bans. These bans have symbolic significance in addressing the issues in cities with the greatest impact of tourism.