Skift Take
Airbnb has taken Amsterdam’s approval of short-term holiday rentals as a wholehearted endorsement of its service; however, there are caveats involved that will continue to be violated. We’re not yet expecting the Dutch news to be followed by a wave approval in the U.S.
Four months after facing serious conflicts in The Netherlands, it appears Airbnb has received the Amsterdam city council’s blessing, Dutch news site NU.nl reports.
Update: Airbnb has released a statement celebrating the “good news from Amsterdam.”
…this legal grey area in which Airbnb operates is evolving into a green light from the Amsterdam city government, with some caveats.
DutchNews.nl clarifies that “the council will not allow homes to be rented out if there is nuisance to neighbours, if fire safety is not in order and if the renting is being done professionally.” In other words, hosts have to actually live where they rent, they can’t rent their apartment or home continuously, and if neighbors complain, hosts should expect consequences.
The Daily Newsletter
Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.
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Photo credit: A house boat sits on the river in Amsterdam. Daniel Foster / Flickr