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 change in the history of problems with illegal holiday apartments. According to current surveys, the proportion of holiday apartments offered illegally is now an alarming 80 to 85 percent of a total of 11,000. A third were initially estimated to be illegal, underscoring the scale of the problem. The municipality of Sylt has begun to take more action against these illegal offers in order to secure the legal framework and the quality of life for the permanently resident population. According to estimates, up to 5,000 of the holiday apartments on offer could be inadmissible, which also brings local politicians into the spotlight.

The review of holiday apartments on Sylt was initiated two years ago. During this period, 150 illegal holiday apartments were closed, with 56 of these closures taking place on Sylt alone. The closure of these illegal objects is seen as a necessary step to enforce current laws. Business associations are warning of serious impacts on the economy and infrastructure if illegal stocks are not regulated. Many apartments were originally approved as permanent residences, but they are often used as holiday apartments.

Impact on the housing market

The situation on the housing market is tense: around 18,000 permanent residents live on Sylt, while around 5,000 commuters travel on the island. Local businesses, including bakeries, are having increasing difficulty finding employees due to a lack of suitable living space. Two years ago, the “Merret is enough” initiative drew attention to the shortage of living space, which is being exacerbated 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 is leading to an intensive political debate. The Nordfriesland district, which is responsible for approving holiday apartments, is currently carrying out checks on the legal situation and individual cases. Discussions have already taken place between the district administrator and the mayors of the Sylt municipality with the aim of obtaining clarity about the development plans by the end of the year.

Financial perspectives

The consequences of illegal holiday apartments are also reflected in real estate prices: They have been falling consistently for two years and have now reached the level before the corona pandemic. Buyers are showing increasing interest in vacation rental approvals, which is impacting their purchasing decisions. In this context, the idea of ​​protecting older holiday homes is also being discussed, although the legal hurdles for such solutions are high.

The development on Sylt could also trigger exemplary solutions for other tourism regions in Germany, where there are also problems with unauthorized holiday apartments. However, the Sylt case is particularly serious and requires quick and pragmatic solutions to overcome the challenges of illegal rentals.

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