Sylt in a state of emergency: fight against illegal holiday apartments!

Sylt in a state of emergency: fight against illegal holiday apartments!

The popular holiday island of Sylt is facing a drastic turn in the problem history of illegal holiday apartments. According to current surveys, the proportion of illegally offered holiday apartments is now 80 to 85 percent of a total of 11,000. A third was originally valued as illegally, which underlines the dimension of the problem. The municipality of Sylt has begun to proceed more against these illegal offers in order to secure the legal framework and the quality of life for the permanently resident population. It is estimated that up to 5,000 of the apartments offered could be inadmissible, which also calls on local politics.

The review of the apartments on Sylt was initiated two years ago. During this period, 150 illegal holiday apartments were closed, with 56 of these closures took place alone on Sylt. The closure of these illegal objects is regarded as a necessary step to enforce the applicable laws. Business associations, however, warn of serious effects on the economy and infrastructure if the illegal stocks should not be regulated. Many apartments have originally been approved as permanent apartments, but they are often used as holiday apartments.

effects on the housing market

The situation on the housing market is tense: around 18,000 permanently resident people live on Sylt, while around 5,000 commuters are on the island. Local companies, including bakeries, are increasingly difficult to find employees because suitable living space is missing. The "Merret is enough" initiative made aware of the lack of living space two years ago, which is tightened by the conversion of living space into holiday apartments. In Westerland, at least 17 permanent apartments were converted into holiday apartments.

The discussion about the future of holiday apartments on Sylt leads to an intensive political debate. The district of North Friesland, which is responsible for the permits of holiday apartments, is currently conducting exams on the legal situation and the individual cases. Talks between the district administrator and the mayors of the municipality of Sylt have already taken place with the aim of receiving clarity about the development plans by the end of the year.

financial perspectives

The consequences of the illegal holiday apartments are also reflected in the real estate prices: they have been constantly falling for two years and have now reached the level in front of Corona pandemic. Buyers show a growing interest in the approval of holiday apartments, which affects their purchase decisions. In this context, the idea of ​​an existing protection for older holiday apartments is also discussed, although the legal hurdles for such solutions are high.

Development on Sylt could also initiate exemplary solutions for other tourism regions in Germany, where there are also problems with non -approved apartments. However, the Sylt case is particularly serious and requires quick and pragmatic solutions to cope with the challenges of illegal rentals.

For the local community on Sylt, the creation of a fair balance between tourism and the needs of the local population is not only desirable, but essential for the future of the island.