Stricter rules for Airbnb in Budapest

The stricter regulation of short-term rentals will only apply to the greater Budapest area, not to the rest of the country. Of the 800,000 households in Budapest, around 140,000 or 18% are long-term tenants – a high figure even by international standards. Meanwhile, the housing situation in the capital has become critical, as rents can reach 50-60% of monthly income (!).

Drastically more short-term lettings

The situation has worsened considerably in recent years due to the increase in short-term lettings to tourists. The number of private accommodation providers has risen by 80% since 2020. Almost 26,000 rooms in private accommodation are currently rented out to guests in the capital, more than the number of places hotels can offer. Private accommodation accounts for more than 40% of overnight stays registered in Budapest, significantly more than the average of 28% in the capitals of the other regions.

New rules from 2025

The annual flat-rate tax for private accommodation in Budapest will quadruple from the current 38,400 forints to 150,000 forints (365 euros) per room from 2025. There will also be a two-year moratorium on Airbnb-like lettings. No new registrations for short-term lettings will be possible in the capital in 2025 and 2026. The measures are aimed at slowing down the increase in rental and property prices caused by Airbnb investments, which have risen by more than 40% since the coronavirus pandemic.