Rules for short term renting in Berlin

Short term rentals in Berlin illegal after May 1 2016? This is what is stated here in this post:

community.airbnb.com/t5/General-Hosting/Berlin-after-May-1st-To-Honour-Existing-Bookings-or-Not/m-p/73211#U73211


Abigail

Berlin after May 1st: To Honour Existing Bookings or Not?
Airbnb is refusing to respond to me on this matter. Apparently short term rentals are illegal in Berlin after May 1st. I just learnt this last week. My calendar is full for May, June, July and I have bookings up till October. These are people's vacations. If I cancel, their vacation might be ruined (I'm guessing other hosts will cancel). And Airbnb penalize hosts who cancel.

I'm caught in an impossible conundrum. To let the innocent people who've booked from me continue with their bookings and risk a huge fine? Or cancel them and lose not just my livelihood (and that of my Berlin caretaker, who has a little boy too look after) but also be penalized for it?

Why is Airbnb being so obtuse about this? Why aren't they offering appropriate support?


This truly feels like the 'wild west' of unregulated, decentralized commerce: nobody in charge, nobody accountable.


Marcus

Abigail Airbnb are not able to police the global rules and regulations of each country and state. Therefore in your agreement with Airbnb it advises that you are responsible for informing yourself and adhereing to local laws.

If you have just found out now this probably means your apartment is not registered with the local council from 2 years back as a ferienwohung. This would technically make you illegal already for this whole time. From the 1st of May the Berlin goverment will start to enforce the law.

I can only recommend you inform yourself quickly on this changing situation.