The majority of voters in Budapest’s 6th district, known as Terézváros, supported the ban on short-term rentals in a binding local referendum that ended this weekend. Local residents could cast their votes regarding the prohibition of Airbnb-type accommodations over a two-week period. Of the 6,083 Terézváros residents who voted 54 per cent, or 3,265, were in favour, while 2,818 were against the proposed ban, the local government informed on Monday.
The statement indicated that from 1 January 2026, the Terézváros local government will set the number of days that properties can be used for short-term rentals in the district at zero.
The vote took place both online and offline at three locations every day between 2 and 15 September. The participation rate of 20.52 per cent was significantly higher than that of similar votes, the local government noted.
Terézváros Mayor Tamás Soproni (Momentum) stated the following in a press release: ‘The next step is to present the will of the residents of Terézváros to the Budapest city council and pass a decree based on their decision. I consider it important that the change will only take effect on 1 January 2026, giving businesses time to prepare for the transition. The residents of the district have set an example of how to use democratic tools and have made a decision about the type of district they want to live in.’
He also emphasized that the majority of votes in favour indicate that Terézváros residents value the peace of their homes more than the lost income and that it is important for them that the district regains its ‘residential character’.
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