Vienna to impose registration for all short-term rentals starting 2027
The city of Wien will require owners of apartments offered on platforms such as Airbnb to register each unit with authorities beginning 1 January 2027.
Vienna is tightening its short-term rental regime by introducing a mandatory registration system for all apartments listed on services like Airbnb, effective 1 January 2027 under the Wiener Kurzzeitvermietungsregistergesetz. Both natural and legal persons must apply for a registration number, which the city will issue after confirming no objections to the rental. Hosts with current listings are granted a grace period until the end of the first quarter of 2027 to comply.
At the same time, the city is restricting the conversion of residential units into commercial lodging, requiring that the majority of floor area on each floor stay dedicated to housing. Existing conversion applications submitted before summer will be assessed under the new rules, while ongoing cases are exempt. The policy response follows a reported increase in conversion requests and numerous complaints from neighbors, according to city statistics. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties.
Why it matters
The rules could curb the loss of housing to tourism and affect rental income for many Viennese property owners.
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