Viennese politicians are fighting against Airbnb: calling for a complete ban!

Viennese politicians are fighting against Airbnb: calling for a complete ban!

In Vienna, the pressure on short-term rentals via platforms such as Airbnb is increasing. The district leader of Vienna-Neubau, Markus Reiter from the Green Party, recently took measures to get the illegal providers under control. An illegal key box that was used to anonymously hand over keys to tourists was removed from Sankt-Ulrichs-Platz. This is part of a broader campaign to take a stand against the unauthorized commercial use of living space. According to Reiter, further steps should follow to initiate a complete ban on short-term rentals.

The number of apartments rented via such platforms in the 7th district has increased tenfold in the last ten years - from 70 in 2014 to 720 in 2024. This corresponds to over 5% of the total housing stock in new buildings. “Already 4% of the apartments in the district have been confiscated,” recalls Georg Prack, housing spokesman for the Vienna Greens. He reiterates that, according to data from the Academy of Sciences, there could even be up to 3,000 Airbnb apartments in the district.

Regulations and requirements

Since July 2024, stricter rules for short-term tourist rentals have been in force in Vienna, which stipulate a maximum duration of 90 days per year. However, Reiter considers this regulation to be largely ineffective in the densely built-up inner city districts. He made particularly critical comments about the building regulations, which allow up to 20% of a property to be used for commercial purposes. In a clear rejection, he calls for a general ban on commercial short-term rentals in residential zones within the belt. Outside the belt, this should only be allowed to a very limited extent.

To emphasize these concerns, Reiter appeals to the SPÖ and the Neos to include an Airbnb ban in the upcoming government program. “We have to secure living space for the population and curb mass tourism,” said the district leader. In this context, he calls on the population to report suspicious key boxes in public spaces. He announces that all illegally installed boxes will be consistently removed in order to improve the living situation in the city center.

Short term rentals in Europe

The topic of short-term rentals is of burning interest not only in Vienna, but throughout the EU. According to reports from the Federal Ministry of Economics Almost a quarter of accommodation in Europe is now organized via such platforms. Many travelers prefer to stay in private apartments in the city center rather than in traditional hotel rooms. While this offers hosts a welcome source of income and supports the local economy, it also has a fatal impact on the availability of affordable housing for locals.

To counteract this problem, many cities are in the process of regulating short-term rentals. These measures aim to combat the housing shortage and ensure that the needs of the local population are taken into account. In May 2024, a new regulation will come into force that is intended to create a digital infrastructure for short-term rentals. This will include, among other things, a registration process for hosts and accommodations.

For Vienna, the situation could well bring about a turning point as a result of the EU regulations. The federal government is called upon to take measures to secure the supply of housing while at the same time shaping the legal framework for short-term rentals.