Copenhagen eyes Airbnb limit
The Local Denmark - [email protected]
Published: 11 Jan, 2017 CET.
Updated: Wed 11 Jan 2017 11:26 CET
Copenhagen Mayor Frank Jensen has proposed that the Danish capital follow the lead of other major European cities in limiting how long a property can be rented out on the popular subleasing service Airbnb.
Jensen said he is interested in following a model recently approved in Amsterdam, where residents will be limited to renting out their homes for a maximum of 60 days per year.
“I am basically a supporter of Airbnb. I like the idea of us sharing our properties and giving tourists the ability to experience being a ‘real’ Copenhagener, and that one can make some money on their property while out travelling,” the Copenhagen mayor wrote on Facebook.
“But it’s a shame that in some cases it is misused and flats or rooms are in actuality being used as hotels and thus creating additional pressure on a housing market that is already under pressure. Therefore I will, in part inspired by Amsterdam, open a dialogue with Airbnb on putting a cap on how many days per year one can rent out their Copenhagen home via Airbnb,” Jensen continued.
Jensen did not specifically say he supported a 60-day limit. Other major cities have set Airbnb limits ranging from 30 days in New York City to 120 days in Paris, according to broadcaster DR.
In Berlin, officials have gone so far as to ban the use of sites like Airbnb to rent out whole flats, but the legislation has been met with contention since it first came into force, with dozens of suits being filed against it.
Barcelona, one of Europe's most popular destinations for short-term holidays, has been massively affected by the rise of home-sharing sites and has slapped Airbnb and similar site HomeAway with fines of €600,000 ($635,000) each for marketing lodgings that lacked permits to host tourists.
Airbnb, which was founded in 2008 and based in San Francisco, said on Wednesday that it is open to discussing a rental limit in Copenhagen.
“We want to be good partners with the politicians and work together on clear rules that support regular people who share their homes,” the company said in a written statement, according to news agency Ritzau.
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Jensen said he is interested in following a model recently approved in Amsterdam, where residents will be limited to renting out their homes for a maximum of 60 days per year.
“I am basically a supporter of Airbnb. I like the idea of us sharing our properties and giving tourists the ability to experience being a ‘real’ Copenhagener, and that one can make some money on their property while out travelling,” the Copenhagen mayor wrote on Facebook.
“But it’s a shame that in some cases it is misused and flats or rooms are in actuality being used as hotels and thus creating additional pressure on a housing market that is already under pressure. Therefore I will, in part inspired by Amsterdam, open a dialogue with Airbnb on putting a cap on how many days per year one can rent out their Copenhagen home via Airbnb,” Jensen continued.
Jensen did not specifically say he supported a 60-day limit. Other major cities have set Airbnb limits ranging from 30 days in New York City to 120 days in Paris, according to broadcaster DR.
In Berlin, officials have gone so far as to ban the use of sites like Airbnb to rent out whole flats, but the legislation has been met with contention since it first came into force, with dozens of suits being filed against it.
Barcelona, one of Europe's most popular destinations for short-term holidays, has been massively affected by the rise of home-sharing sites and has slapped Airbnb and similar site HomeAway with fines of €600,000 ($635,000) each for marketing lodgings that lacked permits to host tourists.
Airbnb, which was founded in 2008 and based in San Francisco, said on Wednesday that it is open to discussing a rental limit in Copenhagen.
“We want to be good partners with the politicians and work together on clear rules that support regular people who share their homes,” the company said in a written statement, according to news agency Ritzau.
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