Last week the district court of Reykjavík ruled that owners of apartments in multifamily residential buildings could not convert their properties into Airbnb’s without the approval of all other residents of the building. While the ruling is widely seen as having set an important precedent, its full impact is not yet clear, according to a lawyer who spoke with the local newspaper Fréttablaðið.
Read more: 4% of all apartments in Reykjavík listed on Airbnb
The case involved the tenants’ association of several high-rise apartment towers in downtown Reykjavík who were unhappy about three apartments in the complex having been converted into Airbnb’s. The lawyer of the tenants’ association told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the residents were fed up with the disruption caused by the guests in the three Airbnb’s. They came and left and unreasonable hours, checking in early in the morning and leaving late at night, dragging their suitcases with them. This constant coming and going had completely changed the atmosphere in the building, lowering the quality of life for other residents and even damaging property values.
Read more: Growing numbers of Airbnbs and guesthouses cause an acute housing shortage in the town of Höfn
The tenants association sued the couple who owned the three apartments, a arguing that the conversion of the apartments into Airbnb’s was a violation of the laws on residential buildings. Changing the use of a property from residential use to business could not be undertaken except with the approval of all residents. All 95 residents would have to agree to the operations. The court accepted this argument.
Last week the district court of Reykjavík ruled that owners of apartments in multifamily residential buildings could not convert their properties into Airbnb’s without the approval of all other residents of the building. While the ruling is widely seen as having set an important precedent, its full impact is not yet clear, according to a lawyer who spoke with the local newspaper Fréttablaðið.
Read more: 4% of all apartments in Reykjavík listed on Airbnb
The case involved the tenants’ association of several high-rise apartment towers in downtown Reykjavík who were unhappy about three apartments in the complex having been converted into Airbnb’s. The lawyer of the tenants’ association told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the residents were fed up with the disruption caused by the guests in the three Airbnb’s. They came and left and unreasonable hours, checking in early in the morning and leaving late at night, dragging their suitcases with them. This constant coming and going had completely changed the atmosphere in the building, lowering the quality of life for other residents and even damaging property values.
Read more: Growing numbers of Airbnbs and guesthouses cause an acute housing shortage in the town of Höfn
The tenants association sued the couple who owned the three apartments, a arguing that the conversion of the apartments into Airbnb’s was a violation of the laws on residential buildings. Changing the use of a property from residential use to business could not be undertaken except with the approval of all residents. All 95 residents would have to agree to the operations. The court accepted this argument.
