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Strangers moving into your Airbnb? Budapest owners warn of a growing security nightmare
Airbnb rules in Budapest are creating a split between districts. From 1 January 2026, Terézváros has imposed a total ban on short-term rentals, backed by intensive inspections to enforce the measure. Meanwhile, the neighbouring district of Erzsébetváros still allows the service. However, recent weeks have seen a growing problem as several property owners report that strangers are taking over their flats.
Daily threats to Airbnb flats in the city centre
According to the latest report from Pénzcentrum, the issue has become a daily occurrence. Forced entry into key safes, leaked codes, and unauthorised occupation of flats have become serious risks in the city centre. A recent case on Wesselényi–Király Street illustrates the severity: last week, four unknown individuals (a woman and three young men) “moved into” a rental flat. They claimed they had found the key outside the building, by the rubbish bins, and when questioned by the owner about its origin, the woman consistently gave a different address.
Police arriving at the scene found dozens of keys in the woman’s bag and more inside the flat. One man was caught on local CCTV trying different entrances. The group claimed they had obtained the key and flat information for HUF 25,000 (EUR 65) near Blaha Lujza Square. Although officers escorted them away, no theft or damage had occurred, so the case did not progress further.
Outdated locks and leaked codes
The story quickly spread on social media, revealing it was far from an isolated incident. Multiple Airbnb owners reported that strangers had accessed other flats using similar methods. Key safes are widely seen as the weakest link: cheap, rotary-style safes can be opened in minutes without damage, and codes “circulate” at Blaha underpass or at street-level safes on Kazinczy Street. Experts argue that the traditional combination of key safe and lock offers no real protection in 2026.
Modern smart locks, by contrast, generate one-time, time-limited codes, can be controlled remotely, log entries, and often include cameras or microphones. While such systems cost HUF 70,000–80,000 (EUR 184–210), owners say that after a break-in, the investment no longer seems expensive.
Ban may spread to other districts
Airbnb’s expansion is not only a security issue but also a matter of urban planning. Csilla Fazekas, Deputy Mayor of District I, says short-term rentals disrupt local communities and alter the character of city areas. She has initiated discussions with the mayors of affected constituencies, and a similar ban in District I could be introduced in the near future.
Property market data show that in Terézváros, the ban has begun to reshape the rental market. The median rent for used flats in January was HUF 282,500 (EUR 742), one per cent lower than a year earlier. In Erzsébetváros, short-term rentals remain popular, but owners are increasingly compelled to switch to modern, digital security solutions if they want to prevent similar incidents.
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