How to check the rules related to Airbnb? Prague wants the officials to be instructed by the ministry – ČT24 – Czech Television
On Friday, Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), Councilor Hana Kordová Marvanová (STAN) and Ombudsman Stanislav Křeček will discuss negotiations with the Ministry of Regional Development. The city has already sent several draft amendments to the Chamber of Deputies in connection with the Airbnb service.
“It is no longer shared accommodation today, but it has become a normal business, which has negative effects on the city budget and the comfort of the natives, and pressure on the price also affects the deteriorating availability of housing,” said Hřib.
According to the mayor, he does not want to fight against shared accommodation as such, but against circumventing the law. “The goal is now to explain to the Ministry of Regional Development that there is a difference between housing and accommodation and to explain this difference further to the authorities,” he added.
The center is depopulating and services are disappearing
According to Marvanová, the massive use of Airbnb leads to the depopulation of the center, the disappearance of services and, in the long run, to the harassment of residents and threats to security in homes. If the flats are used in this way, then according to her, it is necessary for the building authorities to assess whether the building law is not violated and whether there is no change in use.
If there is a change, then the apartment is subject to stricter rules, for example in connection with fire protection. “It is not possible for anyone to do business with the apartment and violate existing legislation,” she said.
In addition, the capital’s management wants to organize a so-called round table meeting, where officials and experts in construction law will be admitted.
The ombudsman will also deal with the ministry. “We will contact the Ministry of Regional Development to explain our position to us, and we will want to find out what the position of the building authorities is,” said Křeček. The topic of the Building Act is another most common topic that his office deals with.
For example, the provision of information on the number of guests has already passed the Chamber of Deputies
Marvan also said that in the case of leases through management platforms, there are conflicts between owners who have their own housing and those who use it as an investment. “One’s freedom ends where the other’s freedom begins,” she said.
Prague has already submitted several draft amendments to the law to deputies. For example, it enforced the obligation of online platforms to provide municipalities with detailed information on the number of guests in order to collect local fees. Another proposal is to change the law so that the powers of the community of owners and individual owners of housing units are strengthened.
The city also promotes that municipalities can issue regulations which, if necessary, could regulate the provision of short-term accommodation services in their territory. This draft amendment to the Trade Licensing Act is awaiting discussion in the Chamber of Deputies.