Hungary is looking to ban more Airbnbs in the capital Budapest and to raise taxes on short-term apartment rentals, the economy minister said on Monday.
Márton Nagy announced the plans just over a month after residents of one of the capital’s districts voted to ban short-term rentals from 2026, the first such ban in one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations.
Some residents in European tourist hotspots blame short-term lets for driving up home prices.
In central Europe, Budapest was the most popular city for short-term stays in 2023 with 6.7 million guest nights, according to Eurostat, ahead of Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Krakow and others.
Eurostat figures show almost 719 million guest nights spent in the European Union were booked via online platforms Airbnb, Booking, Expedia Group and Tripadvisor last year, with Paris leading EU capitals with over 19 million guest nights.
“We are thinking about a possible moratorium and a tax hike in Budapest,” Nagy said at a press briefing, adding that the government had not made a decision yet.
“The Airbnb market will change, and it is sure that it cannot grow further,” he said, calling the issue a question of housing policy.
Nagy also said that the government was negotiating about the proposed new rules with trade organizations in the tourism industry and that changes would not affect short-term rental properties outside the capital.
Some residents in European tourist hotspots blame short-term lets for driving up home prices.
In central Europe, Budapest was the most popular city for short-term stays in 2023 with 6.7 million guest nights, according to Eurostat, ahead of Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Krakow and others.
Eurostat figures show almost 719 million guest nights spent in the European Union were booked via online platforms Airbnb, Booking, Expedia Group and Tripadvisor last year, with Paris leading EU capitals with over 19 million guest nights.
“We are thinking about a possible moratorium and a tax hike in Budapest,” Nagy said at a press briefing, adding that the government had not made a decision yet.
“The Airbnb market will change, and it is sure that it cannot grow further,” he said, calling the issue a question of housing policy.
Nagy also said that the government was negotiating about the proposed new rules with trade organizations in the tourism industry and that changes would not affect short-term rental properties outside the capital.
District 6: For locals only
In September, residents of Budapest’s Terézváros district narrowly voted to ban short-term rentals from 2026 in a decision which could have wider ramifications for the housing market in one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations.
Results published on the Budapest district’s website early on Monday, September 16, following a two-week-long vote, showed 54% of voters backing the ban with a 20.52% turnout, which the district said was well above levels seen at other local initiatives.
“The majority of YES votes signals that residents of the district value the peace of their home more than lost revenue,” the local council said in a statement.
District mayor Tamás Soproni has said the city’s popularity has justified asking locals about the impact of short-term stays on housing affordability and quality of life.
Opponents of a ban have said the move would hit revenue not just for apartment hosts but nearby cafes and restaurants catering largely to foreign tourists.
Results published on the Budapest district’s website early on Monday, September 16, following a two-week-long vote, showed 54% of voters backing the ban with a 20.52% turnout, which the district said was well above levels seen at other local initiatives.
“The majority of YES votes signals that residents of the district value the peace of their home more than lost revenue,” the local council said in a statement.
District mayor Tamás Soproni has said the city’s popularity has justified asking locals about the impact of short-term stays on housing affordability and quality of life.
Opponents of a ban have said the move would hit revenue not just for apartment hosts but nearby cafes and restaurants catering largely to foreign tourists.
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