Rules for short apartment rentals Amsterdam softened again

The rules that are in the making for short-stay apartments in Amsterdam are going to be changed again.

Since the arrival of the internet, more and more apartment owners in Amsterdam have taken to rent out their apartment (or houseboat) to tourists and business travellers. Especially travellers who stay in Amsterdam for a longer period than a few days, like to be in a serviced apartment or houseboat.

Since a few years, Amsterdam has been designing new legislation to regulate the so-called 'short-stay' apartment rentals. The law is scheduled to become effective in the summer of this year.

Broadly, the new rules try limit the number of serviced apartments in Amsterdam that are rented out for short term, and also the kind of apartments: only the bigger, more expensive apartments are to be used for short-stay rentals.

Today the city announced that the draft law will be changed again. A newly introduced short-stay tax will be scrapped entirely, and the licence to operate a short-stay apartment will be given for 10 years (in stead of 5).

This happened after strong complaints by the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce (together with other business organizations).

The city says the softening of the rules also has to do with the weakening economy. The new proposal will be discussed in the city council next month.