New building against Airbnb: Political storm for a rental ban!

New building against Airbnb: Political storm for a rental ban!

The debate about short-term rentals in Vienna is gaining momentum. Markus Reiter, the district leader of Vienna-Neubau, from the ranks of the Green Party, has announced that he will step up measures against platforms such as Airbnb. He recently removed an illegal key box on Sankt-Ulrichs-Platz that served as a secret transfer station for tourists. This action is not only a signal, but also part of a larger strategy to curb illegal commercial use of housing. Reiter made it clear that he would continue to implement such measures until a general ban comes into force.

The situation is tense: According to Reiter, the number of apartments rented via such platforms in the district has increased tenfold in the last ten years, from 70 in 2014 to 720 in 2024. That is over 5% of the total housing stock in the Neubau district. Georg Prack, the housing spokesman for the Vienna Greens, emphasizes that 4% of the apartments in the district have already been sold for short-term rentals.

Criticism of existing regulations

The legal framework does not appear to be sufficient to secure housing for the local population. Reiter criticizes the existing regulations, which have allowed a maximum of 90 days per year for short-term tourist rentals since July 2024. These measures are hardly effective in the densely built-up inner city districts, says Reiter. He sees another weak point in the building regulations, which allow up to 20% of a property for commercial use - a circumstance that politicians are keen to address.

In order to solve the problem holistically, Reiter and Prack are calling for a general ban on commercial short-term rentals in residential zones within the belt. In addition, short-term rentals should only be permitted to a very limited extent in the outskirts. Reiter appeals to the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Neos to also include this regulation in the new government program.

EU-wide trends and regulations

However, the problem is not only in focus in Vienna. Across Europe, the number of short-term rentals via platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Co. is growing. More and more travelers are preferring private apartments in city centers. In the European Union, short-term rentals now account for almost a quarter of all accommodation. This development also brings challenges for cities: the lack of affordable housing for locals is becoming more and more noticeable.

The EU is responding to these challenges by introducing a regulation from May 2024 that will create a digital infrastructure for short-term rentals. This new regime allows Member States to take more local measures and collect registered data on hosts and accommodation. In the future, a central digital access point will make it easier for authorities to access important booking data.

For Viennese politicians, the situation is both a challenge and a call for action. Markus Reiter emphasizes how important it is to secure housing for the population and at the same time draw attention to the burdens caused by mass tourism. He calls on citizens to report suspicious key boxes in public spaces in order to tackle the problem together.