“Quite adventurous”AirBnB does not want to be responsible for rent increases
A study confirms that Airbnb has a negative impact on the rental situation in cities. The company’s leadership defended itself against the accusations. Instead of regulating this area of business, politicians should concentrate on other actions.
The boss of German rental platform Airbnb, Kathrin Anselm, rejected the company’s influence on the housing shortage and rising rental prices in Germany. “Talking about Airbnb causing rental prices to rise is an adventure,” Anselm told media group newspaper Funke, referring to Barcelona, where the supply of Airbnb apartments fell by a quarter between 2018 and 2024, but rental prices rose by 40 percent.
Anselm also rejected research by the German Economic Research Institute (DIW) Berlin in 2021, which showed the direct impact of Airbnb deals on apartment rentals, citing faulty methodology and use of data. According to the manager, who is responsible for 24 other countries in Europe besides the German market, Airbnb’s share in the housing situation in Germany is small or non-existent. “Housing space is not created by banning short-term rentals,” Anselm said. More needs to be built. Regulations regarding short-term rentals may be reasonable, but they must be based on evidence. An expert commission set up by the Federal Ministry of Justice is currently working on a rental law proposal. Short-term rentals must also be taken into account.
Anselm explained why Airbnb has repeatedly been targeted by politicians, saying that Airbnb has created a disruptive business model and therefore automatically faces challenges. “My personal assessment is that it is more difficult to deal with housing construction, renovation and vacancy eradication issues.” Therefore, it is easier to arrange short-term rentals. “But you have to ask the question of proportionality.”
Airbnb complies with all regulations and laws. In Berlin, for example, you cannot place an ad without a registration number or contact information. Local governments can strictly control who advertises apartments on Airbnb. When asked whether controls were actually in place given the tense staffing situation at the office, Anselm responded: “If someone has received permission from their respective district office, Airbnb has no right to judge whether that permission is appropriate.”
According to the manager, Airbnb accommodation landlords earn an average of around 4,000 euros gross per year. “Hosting is hard work. 40 percent of people who advertise on Airbnb do it to subsidize their living costs,” he said.
