Housing shortages fuel policy demands in Trieste and Croatia

In Trieste, the municipal research office estimates a shortage of at least 1,900 student apartments. Only 503 student beds are offered by the public housing agency, covering roughly 6 % of demand, while students comprise about 9 % of the city’s population. Many students commute from neighbouring municipalities, and landlords increasingly favor short‑term tourist rentals over student leases.

In Croatia, the civic group Stanari zajedno has petitioned the government and the Ministry of Tourism to abolish the flat‑rate tax on private short‑term rentals in residential buildings and apply the same taxes and levies that apply to other businesses. The initiative argues that the growth of short‑term tourist rentals is shrinking the long‑term housing stock, driving up prices and forcing families out of coastal areas. Under the current anti‑inflation package, the minimum flat tax per bed has risen to €150 in the most tourist‑heavy locations.

Both cases highlight rising pressure on housing markets from tourism and student populations, prompting calls for regulatory reforms.