The accommodation-booking service Airbnb does not need an estate agent’s licence to operate in France, Europe’s top court has ruled.
The French tourism association had complained that Airbnb did not comply with French property laws.
It means the app’s users avoid a threat of disruption to its service in the country.
Had the court ruled the other way it would have served as a precedent for other EU regulators.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)’s decision was based on its determination that Airbnb was an “information society service” rather than a property broker.
The judges involved also drew a distinction between Airbnb and Uber on the basis of how much control the property-booking app had over transactions on its service.
Airbnb said it would “move forward and continue working with cities”.
What was the case about?
Airbnb is designed to let people rent out spare rooms or entire properties to holiday-makers on a short-term basis.
France’s Association for Professional Tourism and Accommodation (AHTOP) complained that Airbnb was acting as an estate agency without a licence ... Read even more
