Det haster

Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø og Stavanger have identified 65 properties with signs of professional short-term rental activity, with a total of 328 Airbnb listings associated with these properties over the summer. While short-term rentals are not illegal when the owner is on vacation, critics argue that the current regulations are too vague.

Municipalities are left to decide if the activity qualifies as a business that requires approval, making it difficult to oversee. The line between a family's extra income and a professional business is unclear, and introducing different rules for these two income-generating activities may be possible. The influx of tourists to central areas, helped by the ease of renting attractive apartments, has led to higher rental prices and displaced local residents.

In Spain, protests over lack of regulation have turned into demonstrations and even attacks on tourists. Tour operators fear "Spanish situations" in Norway if regulation is not addressed. The question of how to regulate professional short-term rentals is a part of the larger issue that needs to be solved. Spain introduced a national registration system for short-term rentals last year, while France gave municipalities more power to regulate them in 2024.

Germany and Greece have also tightened rules in the past year. The Norwegian government released a guide for municipalities to help them, including defining what distinguishes a home from a business. However, the leader of Tromsø believes more is needed, calling for clearer guidelines and the ability to prohibit short-term rentals altogether.

Both LO and NHO are now demanding that the government speed up work on regulating short-term rentals. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Bjørnar Skjæran, is open to creating rules that give municipalities more power to regulate. While everyone loves tourists and the money they bring, unclear rules are currently shaping the landscape.

It is time to be strict to protect what we are proud of, whether it's beautiful fjords, nature, or the opportunity for families to live in Norwegian city centers.