December often brings travel or the anticipation of new assignments starting at the beginning of the year. Many people find themselves looking for temporary housing, be it something more family-friendly than a traditional hotel or a few months of fully furnished lodging.
In the early 2000s, Airbnb disrupted the hotel scene. Individuals could turn their own properties into short-term rentals (STRs). Since then the STR industry has boomed, with units worldwide numbering in the millions. In Brazil, STRs outnumber traditional hotel rooms almost 3:1, and some other countries aren’t far behind.
While new industries tend to expand faster than the legal framework can catch up with them, regulation has been on the heels of these companies. Many cities that are popular tourist destinations are also facing housing crises for their local residents, sparking tension between the groups. Regulations vary from simple registration to strict guidelines about the types of properties that can be let.
A few notable places with strict regulations include:
Barcelona: Barcelona has one of the most comprehensive plans to regulate STRs, namely by banning them with a goal of removing all rentals by 2029. Permanent STR licenses have been suspended and the issue of new licenses has been halted.
London: London properties can only be let for a maximum of 90 days in the year.
New York City: Airbnb and other companies were de facto banned in 2023 with the passage of Local Law 18, which does not allow the rental of entire units (only rooms in an occupied unit) and prohibits more than two guests at a time.
Vancouver: Vancouver only allows short-term rentals on properties that are also primary residences. This could be a rental room, basement apartment, or mother-in-law suite, but not a separate property with no owner in residence.
Even if the law typically results in fines and punishment for owners, not guests themselves, it is important to familiarize yourself with local rules before booking to avoid renting an illegal property and the lack of protections that come with it. In the worst-case scenarios, there have even been incidents of guests being left out in the cold when they show up to a rental that has been closed.
For those looking for options, Living Abroad has information on hotels, aparthotels, and short-term rentals in the “Short-term Housing” article under Find a Home. You will be sure to find a comfortable place to stay, whether for a week, a month, or longer.
Written by Kate Havas, GMS-T, Content Manager
