The municipal council of Budapest’s 8th district, Józsefváros, has approved a regulatory framework for short-term accommodation that would introduce limits on Airbnb-style rentals at district, neighbourhood, and condominium levels.
Under the concept adopted on Thursday, short-term accommodation will be capped at 3.5 per cent of the district’s housing stock. As a result, no additional short-term rental units will be allowed beyond the existing quota, and new licences will only be issued if capacity remains available within the limit.
The strictest restrictions are planned for the Palace District and Corvin Quarter, where the maximum proportion of short-term accommodation would be set at 5 per cent.
At the condominium level, the proportion of short-term rental properties will be limited to 20 per cent. The calculation will be based on the total floor area of apartments rather than the number of units within a building.
The proposal also requires new short-term accommodation providers to obtain approval from the condominium community before beginning operations.
In cases where a rental property repeatedly causes problems for residents, condominium assemblies would be able to notify the municipality that they no longer support the property’s operation. The district government could then revoke permission for the accommodation to continue operating.
Existing short-term rental properties would be presumed to have condominium approval unless a building’s general assembly formally adopts a resolution withdrawing its consent. This means accommodation providers that do not create problems for residents would be able to continue operating without taking additional action.
Under the planned rules, operators will also be required to display contact information on the entrance door of properties used as short-term accommodation.
The municipality said the new framework is necessary because the current moratorium on registering new Airbnb-style accommodation expires at the end of the year. According to the adopted proposal, the aim is to create a predictable regulatory environment that balances the interests of both residents and accommodation providers.
The detailed regulation based on the approved framework is expected to be adopted in October and could enter into force on 1 January 2027.
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