Buda Castle District council is launching a poll on short-term rentals (Airbnbs), allowing residents’ views to inform decisions on future regulation, the council told Hungarian news agency MTI.
Mayor wants a vibrant and attractive residential district
The issue is particularly timely because the statutory moratorium on registering new short-term accommodation will expire at the end of the year. The council must therefore decide what rules should apply in District I, the Hungarian news agency wrote.
Short-term rentals are a particularly significant issue in District I, one of Budapest’s main tourist destinations, especially in and around Buda Castle. Short-term rentals generates tourism revenue, but residents’ associations and property owners have also raised a number of concerns about such rentals.
“There are markedly different arguments and interests at stake in the debate, and all of them deserve consideration. As mayor, I believe it is right that we should not make decisions over the heads of the people who live here,” László Böröcz said, according to the statement.
The Fidesz mayor added that the council wanted to preserve Buda Castle as a vibrant and attractive residential district, while recognising that tourism and short-term rentals are important to many people and local businesses.
Buda Castle district may ban Airbnb
Residents aged 18 or over who have a permanent address in District I will be eligible to take part in the poll. They will be asked two questions.
The first will ask whether they support a complete ban on Airbnb. The second will ask whether, if Airbnb were not banned, they would support the council imposing conditions on the provision of short-term accommodation.
Airbnb restrictions in Budapest could deter tourists
In response to a question from MTI, the council said that District I currently has more than 400 licensed private accommodations and other properties, typically operated as commercial businesses.
The first Budapest district to ban Airbnb rentals was the capital’s 6th district following a referendum, which had a very low turnout.
Airbnb bust continues in Budapest: another district joins the regulations
Warning! Never stay in a Budapest Airbnb that has this sticker on it
Featured image: depositphotos.com
The 6th may have banned short term rentals but there is virtually no enforcement that I can see. Both in my own building and in other buildings where I know people there continues to be short term letting, often with antisocial consequences. A simple search on the booking site b—king.com will reveal large numbers of short term rental apartments in the 6th district. I don’t think there is any serious interest in cracking down. It appears that the ban was largely for political purposes and not to change anything too much on the ground.
Hahaha! Good one.
Only 10% were against it and you support and unlawful decision of the Kúria knowing it was controlled by the previous corrupted government who just wanted the whole clientele for the hotel section they own and started planting fake news since 2018 in order to influence the opinion of the people, using the fact that most people are clueless about the facts that are:
1. Higher rent is because of supply & demand due to the fact that foreign students/digital nomads come with deeper pockets.
2. More than 90 hotels were built in the past 6 years, accumulating 5 times more consumption of space, parking, people per square meters, water and electricity and of course more residential areas.
3. Only 10% of the people in the 6th corrupted referendum the lasted a ridiculous amount of time (14 days) with contract of interest (same party “Momentum” were running campaigns against it simultaneously).
Airbnb has caused the economy of Budapest to increase.
The amount of “problematic hosts” is way tinier and just required stricter regulations and policy towards irresponsible hosts.