Authorities in Geneva have ruled that private apartments or houses can be rented on platforms such as Airbnb for a maximum of 60 days annually. Those failing to comply will be fined, they said.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-ATS/dos
Taking their cue from other European cities such as Berlin, which have capped the amount of time private accommodation can be offered on Airbnb, the Geneva cantonal government said on Wednesday that the figure of 60 days represented an approximation of “school holidays and some weekends”.
Such a ceiling thus allows for hosts who genuinely live in the apartment to sublet it on certain occasions; anything beyond this figure, however, means that the nature of the accommodation has shifted to something more commercial.
The regulation will come into effect from April 1. Fines will be imposed on those who fail to respect the limit, the government said.
The goal of the regulation is to tackle the problem of apartments being used primarily as rentals for travellers rather than being let on the market as homes. The housing market in Geneva is already very tight, while owner occupancy of apartments is also extremely low.
The decision comes after some years of debate in Switzerland about how best to regulate Airbnb, which has continued to gain in strength across the country. Cantons have debated leaning on the company to collect tourist tax – a step already taken in Zug – while canton Geneva had reportedly also considered a complete ban of the platform.
Airbnb welcomed Wednesday’s decision, but warned that the new regulations should not bring about “onerous administrative formalities for hosts”.
Some 2,000-3,000 accommodations in Geneva are offered on Airbnb’s site, according to the authorities.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss holiday homes becoming cheaper to buy
This content was published on
Prices have dipped anywhere from 3% to 9 % year-on-year in some of the best-known Swiss tourist destinations, such as St Moritz and Verbier. This contrasts drastically with steadily increasing housing costs in the French and Austrian Alps, UBS says. UBS blames the plunging Swiss holiday home market on the strong franc combined with a…
Airbnb sees strong growth in mountain regions, report finds
This content was published on
Online rental platform Airbnb continues to expand in Switzerland, but the epicentre of its growth is not urban; it’s the mountains that are booming.
Swiss regions lean on Airbnb to collect tourist tax
This content was published on
As the number of Airbnb offers in Switzerland continues to grow, cantons and parliamentarians continue to discuss ways to regulate the platform.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.