Airbnb: "Brussels regulations are absurd”

The set of new rules that the Brussels government wants to impose on Airbnb landlords in the city is "absurdly complex", warns Airbnb CEO Nicolas Ferrary in De Tijd. He refers to “at least 15 forms” which landlords will have to submit to be allowed to rent out their homes via the online platform, among other complex procedures, writes brusselnieuws.be.

Before the summer, the Flemish and Brussels governments announced that there would be a renewal of their respective accommodation laws, including new rules for property owners offering accomodation via Airbnb. The exact details of the Brussels legislation have not yet been made public, but Ferrary is already warning that they could have a negative impact on tourist accomodation in the capital, and cause Brussels to “miss out on the breakthrough of Airbnb”.

While the Flemish government is said to have removed the need for a permit to rent a home via Airbnb, the Brussels government has gone the other direction, with an the introduction of a new administrative procedure for all tourist accommodation, including Airbnb.

"The average Airbnb lessor is someone who rents out their house or apartment during the three weeks that they are on holiday," says the CEO in De Tijd. "For most people, Airbnb is something they use only on occasion, and they will therefore never go through so much red tape.”

"Flanders acknowledges that," Ferrary continues. "But in Brussels the opposite is the case, and that's unfortunate. You have to submit 15 forms, get the consent of the co-owners of the building and make sure that each closet has at least five hangers. It is all absurdly complex."