The task force against illegal short-term rental in Innsbruck has started its work and has already achieved its first successes. A criminal case is already underway. But they want more staff.
Ten criminal proceedings, two cases in which refugees from Ukraine have moved into overpriced Airbnb apartments – not everything runs smoothly with short-term rentals in Innsbruck. Airbnb is a touchy subject that annoys many people as the housing market is already overheated.
That is why an “Taskforce Airbnb” was set up in the Tyrolean capital to monitor the offers. Short-term rental is legal in principle, but depending on the situation you have to register a company or get a permit – that doesn’t always go according to plan.
Daily anonymous letters
In response to a question to GR Benjamin Plach (SPÖ), it turned out that of the 175 data records sent by the commissioning company Destilytics, 100 apartments in the population or apartment register could be checked or corrected. There are ten criminal proceedings pending and the number could “significantly increase”.
The task force therefore has its hands full, also because the municipal council in March canceled an employee position that the department deemed urgently necessary. Moreover, the media coverage seems to be working. At the moment, about five callers a day inquire about legal rental options and the department also receives anonymous letters about vacancies or holiday homes almost every day.
‘The black sheep must be fished out’
“Certainly now that the tourism industry is starting up again, the black sheep must be taken out of circulation. That is why additional staff is needed to combat these illegal short-term rentals! The system of systematic evaluations works and the departments are confronted with numerous test procedures,” says Plach, who is also committed to “residential areas” in which Airbnb will be completely banned in the future.
Source: Krone
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