Bad news from Berlin for visitors where the ban on holiday apartment rentals came into effect yesterday, January 1st.
It will be illegal for owners of an estimated 12,000 properties to rent to holidaymakers and they could be fined up to €50,000.
The past twenty years have seen Berlin climb the totem of coolest and cheapest European city break destinations with ten million visitors last year.
The Ryanair and easyjet effect of bringing thousands of weekenders to the city to enjoy the all night clubs, pubs and cheap grub has Berliners at their wits ends. The new legislation is in response to what is perceived as a decrease in affordable long term rental accommodation and complaints by residents to the influx.
However, a quick check of the top four holiday rentals sites shows that owners are still listing their properties in Berlin, Housetrip tops the list with 1,298, followed by Homeaway (1,046), Holidaylettings (957), and Flipkey (332). Airbnb are showing 647 properties to rent with a mixture of stays in people's homes and standalone rentals.
I hear from a colleague in Berlin that the ban is due to be phased in next year over a two year transitional period and will probably be subject to legal challenges. In the meantime, you can still party in Berlin.
The short term holiday rental market has been taking a battering in New York, where there have been some prosecutions for violations of building regulations. In Paris the city council is considering one year as the minimum rental period and Spain is also making sounds about short term rentals.
It will be illegal for owners of an estimated 12,000 properties to rent to holidaymakers and they could be fined up to €50,000.
The past twenty years have seen Berlin climb the totem of coolest and cheapest European city break destinations with ten million visitors last year.
The Ryanair and easyjet effect of bringing thousands of weekenders to the city to enjoy the all night clubs, pubs and cheap grub has Berliners at their wits ends. The new legislation is in response to what is perceived as a decrease in affordable long term rental accommodation and complaints by residents to the influx.
However, a quick check of the top four holiday rentals sites shows that owners are still listing their properties in Berlin, Housetrip tops the list with 1,298, followed by Homeaway (1,046), Holidaylettings (957), and Flipkey (332). Airbnb are showing 647 properties to rent with a mixture of stays in people's homes and standalone rentals.
I hear from a colleague in Berlin that the ban is due to be phased in next year over a two year transitional period and will probably be subject to legal challenges. In the meantime, you can still party in Berlin.
The short term holiday rental market has been taking a battering in New York, where there have been some prosecutions for violations of building regulations. In Paris the city council is considering one year as the minimum rental period and Spain is also making sounds about short term rentals.
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