Illegal holiday apartments in Bad Kreuznach: City loses thousands of euros!

Illegal holiday apartments in Bad Kreuznach: City loses thousands of euros!

More and more owners in Bad Kreuznach are renting out their properties as holiday apartments or houses without officially registering them. The market for these offerings is opaque, and it is estimated that the actual number of vacation rentals is well in excess of the 148 officially registered. Michael Vesper, managing director of the local tourism company, reports an increasing trend in illegal rentals, which is also putting a financial strain on the city.

Since unregistered guests do not pay tourist tax, Bad Kreuznach loses significant guest contributions. These amount to 3.50 euros per day per adult, which can lead to large sums, especially when booking for several people over longer periods of time. For example, when renting for six people over ten days, the losses quickly add up to thousands. To counteract this development, the tourism company uses online platforms to identify undeclared landlords and carries out test bookings on platforms such as Airbnb.

Legal framework and problems

The phenomenon of misuse is not just a local problem. The pressure on the housing market in many German cities is continually increasing. A law that was introduced in 2006 regulates the misappropriation of living space. This includes, among other things, short-term rentals to tourists without permission. This clearly shows how important it is that landlords adhere to the legal requirements that require approval for such uses.

The regulations vary depending on the federal state. In Mainz, for example, apartments can only be rented out as holiday homes for a maximum of 12 weeks per year. The city actively pursues illegal operators and has already initiated 60 violation cases, with 21 violations discovered this year.

Financial and legal consequences

Illegal landlords have to expect high additional payments for the unpaid tourist tax, which can amount to several thousand euros. In addition to the financial losses, there are also legal consequences: if the ban on misuse is ignored, fines of up to 50,000 euros can be imposed, and in some regions even significantly higher amounts.

The aim of the legislature is to keep sufficient living space available under reasonable conditions and to restrict short-term rental concepts promoted by platforms such as Airbnb. This problem not only affects Bad Kreuznach, but also other cities, which increasingly have to deal with illegal rentals in order to counteract the housing shortage.

In summary, it can be said that both in Bad Kreuznach and in other cities there is a growing need for clear, transparent regulations in order to reconcile the rights of landlords and the interests of municipalities. Other federal states are already discussing the introduction of a ban on misappropriation in order to effectively meet the challenges in the housing market.