New rules for Airbnb hosts in Brussels

Airbnb hosts in Brussels will have to adhere to a new set of rules from 2016, including obligatory registration, writes De Tijd. The new rules apply to anyone renting out rooms to tourists in the Brussels-Capital Region from next year.

Airbnb hosts in Brussels will for the first time be required to submit a number of documents: a copy of the title deeds, an insurance contract, an extract from the judicial record, a certificate of fire safety and a floor plan of the property. Those letting an apartment will need to have the consent of the co-owners of the building.

The new rules are a heavy burden on the majority of Brussels Airbnb hosts, argues Airbnb. According to the company, most landlords only use Airbnb on occasion, such as when they are on holiday. The Brussels government refutes the claim, and says that there are plenty of exceptions.

According to the website Inside Airbnb, there are 4,903 rooms offered in Brussels through Airbnb.