Will airbnb-type accommodations be banned in Budapest? Tightening is coming

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 08. 14. 11:08

The regulation of short-term housing rentals in Budapest is back on the agenda, after the 7th district municipality announced that a decisive vote on banning Airbnb-type accommodation will be held in September. The decision could have a significant impact on the industry, as the district is one of the centers of Airbnb users in the capital.

Voting will last for two weeks from September 2, and residents of the district over the age of 16 can cast their vote both online and in person. Before the vote, the district distributes an informational publication to the residents, which presents the arguments for and against the ban. They are also organizing a conference on the topic.

Tamás Soproni, he mayor of the district, justified the need for the ban by saying that the municipality does not have an effective tool for controlling the rental of apartments, especially for enforcing the number of annual rental days. A complete ban would allow even a simple test purchase to be sufficient for verification. According to Soproni’s promise, if the residents decide in favor of the ban, the municipality will make short-term apartment rentals illegal in the district from January 2026.

The regulation of short-term housing rentals has already come up before, but the a complete 7th district ban would be the most drastic step to date in Budapest. The mayor emphasized that although short-term housing rental has many advantages – for example, it creates jobs and brings significant income to the municipality – it also has serious disadvantages. Many people complain about the growing number of apartments and the disturbances caused by tourists, and the emptying of the city center is also an increasing problem.