New Airbnb Law in Germany: What Changes for Vacation Rentals
Want more details? π Here's the full version with all background info.
Illustration: Bundesnetzagentur building as central data collection point. Data flows from icons of various platforms to the agency.
What Happened
The German government approved a new law for Airbnb and similar platforms on November 5, 2025. Federal Government Starting May 2026, platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com must report rental data to a central point: the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency). Haufe
Key Takeaways
- Platforms like Airbnb must report data from 2026
- Bundesnetzagentur becomes the central collection point
- Cities will be able to more easily check if rules are followed
- Goal: More control over vacation rentals
π Why This Matters Internationally
This German law is similar to what London and Paris already implemented, but nationwide and centralized.
International Comparison:
- London: Already has a 90-day limit since 2015
- Paris: Mandatory registration number system since 2017
- New York: Very strict β full-apartment rentals largely banned
- Amsterdam: Only 30 days per year allowed
Germany's advantage: Everything centralized at federal level β may be more efficient than city-by-city systems.
Why This Law?
In many cities, there's a problem: regular apartments are permanently rented to tourists via platforms like Airbnb. This has consequences:
- Fewer apartments for local residents: If an apartment is rented year-round to rotating guests, no family can live there.
- Higher rents: Fewer apartments mean the remaining ones become more expensive.
Many cities have issued rules: apartments can't simply be converted into vacation rentals. But until now, cities could barely control this β because they didn't know who was renting where and for how long.
What Exactly Changes?
1. Platforms Must Report Data
From May 2026, Airbnb, Booking.com, and similar platforms must automatically transmit certain data to the Bundesnetzagentur. For example:
- Where is the apartment? (address)
- How long is it rented? (days per year)
- Who is the owner?
2. Bundesnetzagentur Becomes Collection Point
The Bundesnetzagentur (a federal agency) collects all this data at a central point. Haufe
3. Cities Can Query Data
Municipalities β cities and towns β can query data from the Bundesnetzagentur. They then see: who is renting where and for how long? And they can check: are our rules being violated?
Illustration: city view with residential buildings. Some buildings have a crossed-out housing symbol (misuse). In the foreground, a municipality with a tablet checking data.
What Tenant Associations and Critics Say
The German Tenants' Association says: the law is a good first step. But not enough. Tenants' Association The association demands: apartments should be rentable as vacation apartments for a maximum of six months per year.
The FDP criticizes the law as "excessive bureaucracy". They say: the state shouldn't control everything. This hinders investment and innovation.
Die Linke says: the law doesn't go far enough. They demand a ban on commercial vacation apartments in cities with housing shortages.
π¬π§ Comparison with UK/US Systems
| City/Country | Current System |
| London π¬π§ | β 90-day limit, auto-enforcement by Airbnb |
| New York πΊπΈ | β Virtually banned (full apartments <30 days) |
| Paris π«π· | β Registration number + 120-day limit |
| Berlin π©πͺ | β 90-day limit (similar to London) |
Lesson: Germany's centralized federal model could be an example for other countries.
What Happens Next?
The law must pass through the Bundestag (parliament) and Bundesrat (federal council). If approved, the Bundesnetzagentur has until May 2026 to build the system.
Then we'll see: Does enforcement work better? Or does everything stay the same because there aren't enough staff to check the data?
Why This Matters
The law shows how the government works: SPD wants more control over the housing market. CDU doesn't want excessive regulation. The result is a compromise: more transparency β but without a strict ban.
Whether this will ease the housing market remains to be seen. Critics say: without rental time limits, the law achieves little.
π What This Means for Expats & International Residents
If you're looking for an apartment:
- β The law may ease the market β more apartments, lower rents
- β οΈ But: only if cities actually enforce the rules
- β³ Effect will only be visible in 2026/2027
If you're renting out:
- β οΈ From 2026, data will be reported automatically
- π Make sure you have all permits
- πΆ If you violate rules: high fines (up to β¬500,000 in Berlin)
Comparison with UK/US: If you know London's 90-day rule β Germany is now implementing something similar nationwide.