EU to Airbnb: follow the rules

The European Commission said on Monday, that the popular online booking service Airbnb is in breach of several EU regulations and gave it until end-August to comply with the existing law. “Popularity cannot be an excuse for not complying with EU consumer rules. Consumers must easily understand how much they are expected to pay for the services and have fair rules for example on cancellation of the accommodation by the owner,” EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said in a statement. Among the breaches listed by the European Commission are, not displaying the final price in the offer, not stating whether the accommodation is provided by a private individual or a professional company. It also wants it to modify terms of service to make them fairer to consumers. The company has until the end of August to present its proposals for responding to the criticism which will then be reviewed by the Commission and national consumer authorities. It could face fines if it does not comply with EU rules. “We take this issue seriously and are committed to being as transparent as possible for our community,” Airbnb said in a statement. “Guests are made aware of all fees, including service charges and taxes, prior to confirming their decision to book a listing, and we will work together with the authorities to clarify the points raised.”