During a conference at the Tusványos Festival, personalities from some Budapest neighborhoods run by Fidesz discussed what they consider to be the biggest problem today in Budapest: the lack of control over Airbnb properties. They claimed that soon a “much needed” tightening of Airbnb’s rules could be coming, Index reported.
It was the deputy mayor of the 8th arrondissement, Attila Egry, who first said that the absence of rules is a big problem. He said that in the next six months (in Hungary local elections will take place in October), they would create a rule that would make Airbnb “tolerable” for other residents as well. “It’s not acceptable for people to suffer, just because some residents operate Airbnbs,” he insisted.
Index reminded him that a decree had already been passed last year in his district which orders apartment owners who rent out their properties as temporary accommodation, to pay the maximum property tax (1,898 Huf – 6 euros per m² and per year). Egry said this law was only about taxation, while the new one would regulate cohabitation. He argued that it is intolerable that “people living in the house cannot do anything when Airbnb interferes with community living”.
Fidesz MP and former deputy mayor of the 7th district, István Bajkai, revealed that he was already working on the law, which would make landlords more responsible and allow more influence to neighbours.
Bajkai wants to increase strict liability for landlords, so they can be held accountable to their guests, and at the same time increase the influence of residents so they have a say in the rental process.
Moreover, according to him, the owners no longer have an interest in keeping the houses in order since they do not live there. That too should be changed, he argued.
According to the Fidesz Mayor of Csepel, Lénárd Borbély, not only Airbnb’s rules, but the whole process of occupancy and the restrictions and regulations regarding the protection of property should be strengthened, because its “practical use is equal to zero”. Even if the notary renders a decision or an order, he has no other tools in his hands to apply it, he explained.
featured image: Pixabay
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