Berlin makes illegal it to list entire apartments on Airbnb

[Jos]

Berlin is cracking down on short-term rentals in attempt to keep housing rates affordable. As of May 1st, it’s ilegal to list entire apartments on online platforms such as Airbnb, Wimdu and 9 Flats in the German capital, after a two year transition period for the Zweckentfremdungsverbot law ("prohibition of improper use") ended on April 30.

Homeowners can still rent out individual rooms on Airbnb and similar websites, but the rented area can’t comprise more than 50% of the entire property. If found violating this newly implemented policy, Berliners can be fined up to €100,000 (£78,371).

Airbnb listings in Berlin have already dropped by 40% in the past month as a result of the law, according to The Independent.

Berlin’s head of urban development Andreas Geisel described the law as “a necessary and sensible instrument against the housing shortage in Berlin”.

Rent prices in Berlin rose 56% between 2009 and 2014, although they are still considered fairly low compared to other major European cities. According to Airbnb’s own figures, more than 20,000 Berliners shared their homes last year on Airbnb, with the typical host earning an additional €1,800 by sharing their space for 34 nights.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/64657-berlin-makes-illegal-list-entire-apartments-airbnb.html

 

[RustyTech]

Berlin is cracking down on short-term rentals in attempt to keep housing rates affordable.

This reads Special Interest. I would imagine that when so many are listing their place for rent, there would be some competition - which would drive down the prices. So right now...they remove an avenue of competition and this will somehow result in more affordable rates? I think not.

 

[davislane1]

Berlin is cracking down on short-term rentals in attempt to keep housing rates affordable.

This reads Special Interest. I would imagine that when so many are listing their place for rent, there would be some competition - which would drive down the prices. So right now...they remove an avenue of competition and this will somehow result in more affordable rates? I think not.

What's the migrant demand for housing in Berlin?

That'll tell you all you need to know.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

If the allies hadn't flattened the Reichstag imagine what they could've rented that for...

 

[RustyTech]

What's the migrant demand for housing in Berlin?

That'll tell you all you need to know.

ahhh yes...I didn't think about that. That would explain it all actually.

 

[Solitaire888]

Berlin is cracking down on short-term rentals in attempt to keep housing rates affordable.

This reads Special Interest. I would imagine that when so many are listing their place for rent, there would be some competition - which would drive down the prices. So right now...they remove an avenue of competition and this will somehow result in more affordable rates? I think not.

So, what is actually happening is they're banning people listing out entire apartment buildings a unit at a time for super expensive short term stays (basically acting as hotels, but being run and taxed as apartments). This does, in effect, lower the housing rental prices by increasing competition in that market instead of having that 'apartment building' competing with hotels.

 

[DelJo63]

This is a domestic issue also:

• http://www.realtor.org/field-guides/field-guide-to-short-term-rental-restrictions
• http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article55560300.html
• http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...g-your-home-airbnb-other-rental-services.html

Huntington Beach has out right forbidden S.T.R. due to traffic and parties in residential areas - - there are other communities too.

All it takes as one or two bad apples to spoil a good thing for everyone else.