GinnyJo

I was hoping to rent an apartment in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg or perhaps Mitte for a 5-night stay in May 2016. Most of the owners I contacted cannot book past April 2016, referencing a newish Berlin law limiting short-term rentals.

Is there a definitive way for me to determine before booking if a rental would be legit? What does the law actually allow? One owner told me that because she herself lived in her apartment 6 months of the year, she is permitted to continue with short-term rentals.

Alternatively, any suggestions for specific hotels or B&Bs in the area in the 100 euro/night range, if I need to give up on searching for a reliable apartment?

traveller1959

The "Zweckentfremdungsgesetz" affects only apartments that shall be converted to vacation rentals in the future. Apartments which have been vacation rentals before 2013 are not affected. Try this website: http://www.homeaway.com/

Christina

I don't know how you could possibly determine if the owner had a legal registered apt or not. This law has been around a while but had a two year transition or grace period for people to legally register their apts, if they could be legal. The owners you contacted who said they can't book past 2016 obviously were aware of the law but could not comply.

I don't know the details, the law prohibits short term rentals, I thought any rental less than 6 months, but maybe there are some exceptions for people who reside in their apt a certain percent of time (other cities have laws where the owner has to live there some proportion, maybe 2/3 to 75% or something). I'd be surprised if it were as lenient as 6 months residency, but don't really know. The point of the law is to prohibit short-term vacation rentals by profiteers who are solely operating vacation apts and are not resident owners, or owner/investors who mainly bought it to rent out, and don't hardly live there at all.

GinnyJo

"I don't know how you could possibly determine if the owner had a legal registered apt or not."

That's the part that scares me. I thought that if I understood this law completely, I would be able to determine whether an apartment I was considering was indeed compliant.

Any other suggestions, anyone?

mokka4

Of course, you've checked
www.booking.com. and
hrs.de. ? Both list a few apartments which seem to allow short-term rentals...

mokka4

hrs in particular, lists several apartments in Berlin-Mitte for under $105/night, when I input 5 dummy dates in May...of course, I didn't read through taxes, etc
Good luck!

GinnyJo

Thanks, Mokka4. I was not aware of hrs.de -- I will look into it!