The village of Djúpivogur in East Iceland has become the latest town of village in Iceland to place strict limits on new Airbnb listings and ban the conversion of apartments and homes into guesthouses or short term rentals to tourists. Previously the villages of Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur in South Iceland have introduced strict limits on new guesthouses and Airbnbs. Other small towns and villages have been facing acute housing shortages caused by the combination of a booming tourism industry and the conversion of homes into guesthouses and Airbnbs.
Read more: An Airbnb ban in the village of Vík in South Iceland
Anyone currently operating a guesthouse in Bíldudalur will automatically get a permit to operate until 2020, but no new permits will be issued and any new Airbnb rentals or other short term rentals to travellers will only be permitted if neighbours approve. Anyone wishing to offer short term rentals of rooms or apartments must also show that he has enough parking spots for the guests. Furthermore, no more than eight beds can be rented out in any one house.
Read more: Growing numbers of Airbnbs and guesthouses cause an acute housing shortage in the town of Höfn
The mayor of Djúpivogur told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the ban was introduced to protect the village from the negative effects of the booming tourism industry.
“We cannot allow things to develop as they have done in many other towns and villages where entire streets have been converted into guesthouses or tourist rentals. These streets and the houses along them then remain deserted for much of the year because they are just being rented out to tourists during the peak season. We want a vibrant town where people live all year round.”
The village of Djúpivogur in East Iceland has become the latest town of village in Iceland to place strict limits on new Airbnb listings and ban the conversion of apartments and homes into guesthouses or short term rentals to tourists. Previously the villages of Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur in South Iceland have introduced strict limits on new guesthouses and Airbnbs. Other small towns and villages have been facing acute housing shortages caused by the combination of a booming tourism industry and the conversion of homes into guesthouses and Airbnbs.
Read more: An Airbnb ban in the village of Vík in South Iceland
Anyone currently operating a guesthouse in Bíldudalur will automatically get a permit to operate until 2020, but no new permits will be issued and any new Airbnb rentals or other short term rentals to travellers will only be permitted if neighbours approve. Anyone wishing to offer short term rentals of rooms or apartments must also show that he has enough parking spots for the guests. Furthermore, no more than eight beds can be rented out in any one house.
Read more: Growing numbers of Airbnbs and guesthouses cause an acute housing shortage in the town of Höfn
The mayor of Djúpivogur told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the ban was introduced to protect the village from the negative effects of the booming tourism industry.
“We cannot allow things to develop as they have done in many other towns and villages where entire streets have been converted into guesthouses or tourist rentals. These streets and the houses along them then remain deserted for much of the year because they are just being rented out to tourists during the peak season. We want a vibrant town where people live all year round.”
