Denmark's Liberal Party wants municipalities to enforce rules against illegal Airbnb rentals. The proposal targets Copenhagen's housing market where extensive short-term rentals drive up prices.
Venstre's political spokesperson Jan E. Jørgensen said uncontrolled Airbnb operations create empty apartments in desirable areas. He argues this distorts competition and reduces housing availability.
"It pushes up housing prices," Jørgensen stated. "Popular apartments in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg stand empty in principle."
The government acknowledges the Airbnb challenge in the capital region. Minister for Rural and Urban Affairs Morten Dahlin agrees something must be done.
Yet no concrete government proposal has emerged until now.
Venstre suggests municipalities should monitor whether apartments exceed the permitted 70 rental days annually. They would force Airbnb to disclose rental duration data upon request.
Violators would face substantial fines targeting both property owners and Airbnb itself.
"The fine must be noticeable," Jørgensen emphasized.
Municipalities already enforce residential obligation requirements. Venstre argues local control makes logical sense for rental monitoring too.
While Denmark often defers tech regulation to the EU, Jørgensen believes Denmark can independently require Airbnb's compliance.
"The worst outcome would be Airbnb leaving Denmark," he noted. "But others would likely replace them."
Both Jørgensen and Minister Dahlin support limited residential rentals when owners travel. Their concern targets systematic rule-breakers.
"We must crack down on those cheating and breaking rules," Dahlin recently said.
The proposal reflects growing European scrutiny of short-term rental platforms. Copenhagen's housing shortage makes enforcement particularly urgent there.
Local control could prove more effective than national oversight. Municipal authorities better understand neighborhood housing dynamics.
Yet implementation challenges remain. Monitoring thousands of individual rentals requires significant municipal resources.