Berlin attracts millions of visitors every year. The demand for short-term accommodation is real, the revenue potential is significant, and plenty of owners wonder whether their apartment could work as a holiday rental. The honest answer is that it can, but only if you understand the rules. Berlin has some of the strictest short-term rental regulations in Europe, and enforcement is getting tighter. Understanding the Zweckentfremdungsverbot. Since 2014, Berlin has had a law called the Zweckentfremdungsverbot, which effectively prohibits using residential housing for purposes other than permanent living, unless you have explicit permission from your district. Converting a residential apartment into […]

Starting today, renting your Berlin apartment on a furnished or temporary basis in force. If you own a property in Berlin and you have been renting it out furnished, on a short or medium-term basis, this article is for you. The Berlin Senate passed new administrative regulations that came into force on 18 April 2026. From today, any temporary rental (Wohnen auf Zeit) or subletting arrangement inside one of Berlin’s social preservation zones (Milieuschutzgebiete) requires formal approval from the local Bezirksamt. No approval, no legal rental. What is ‘wohnen auf zeit’ and why did Berlin target it? Wohnen auf Zeit refers […]

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