Airbnb to Set Night Limits for Hosts in London, Amsterdam

(Source: Travel Pulse)

Airbnb revealed earlier this month that hosts in London and Amsterdam will soon need a license in order to rent out their homes for more than 90 days a year or 60 days a year, respectively.

According to Bloomberg, the San Francisco-based home-sharing platform will begin automatically limiting home listings starting next year. The new regulations build on guidelines established a year ago.

In addition to the night limit, Airbnb will roll out a brand new tool that Amsterdam residents can use to voice their concerns about a particular listing, including noise complaints.

"Amsterdam is a world leader for the sharing economy and a special city for Airbnb. We want to be good partners for everyone in the city and ensure home sharing grows responsibly and sustainably," said Airbnb general manager for Northern Europe James McClure in a statement.

"The new measures are an example to the world and demonstrate the positive results that can be achieved when policymakers and Airbnb work together on our shared goals of making cities better places to live, work and visit."

While they may not be a hit with some hosts, the night limits are undoubtedly a step in the right directon for many city leaders who have been working together for months in hopes of generating some common regulations.

"Having the 20 or 30 biggest urban markets of the world all operating under entirely different rules doesn’t do much good for anyone," a spokesman for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's deputy for housing and economic development said this past summer via Bloomberg.

The new limits arrive after Airbnb has come under fire from the hotel industry, which claims too many of the company's hosts are operating illegal hotels.

The news comes just a month or so after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo passed legislation that makes it illegal in New York City to list entire apartments on Airbnb and other home-sharing services for fewer than 30 days.