Hamburg

Hosting in Hamburg

This guide provides information for individuals hosting homes in Hamburg. Hosts are responsible for verifying and complying with all relevant obligations. This article is a reference and not a substitute for professional legal or tax advice. For complex situations, contact the City of Hamburg or a local advisor.

Short-Term Rental Regulations

The City of Hamburg requires that you register and display either a housing protection number (Wohnraumschutznummer), a permit, or business details if your listing is exempt. These rules are based on the Hamburg Housing Protection Act, effective January 1, 2019.

Housing Protection Number

Hosts generally need a housing protection number to offer a short-term rental. It is free and can be obtained online in under ten minutes. You are eligible if your listing is your primary residence and you:

Rent a private or shared room.
Rent your entire home for up to eight weeks per year.
Rent a residential space for long-term stays.
Rent a non-residential space without listing business details.

Each primary residence only requires one number, which must be added to every listing. Applications can be rejected if you:

Try to register a secondary residence.
Rent more than 50% of your home for a private/shared space.
Plan to rent your entire primary residence for more than 56 days in a year without applying for a permit.

Short-Term Rental Permit

If you want to rent a secondary residence or your primary residence for more than eight weeks per year, a permit is required. The process takes up to six weeks and must be completed at your local District Office.

Exemptions

Listings that are non-residential, such as licensed B&Bs, serviced apartments, or hotels, are exempt if business details are provided in the listing.

Occupancy Reporting

All hosts must notify the city of the duration of a guest’s stay within ten days unless exempt. Hamburg is planning an online reporting process starting April 1, 2019.

Updating Your Listing

Once you receive a housing protection number, permit, or exemption, you must add it to your listing to comply with the law.

Overnight Accommodation Tax

Hamburg charges a Cultural and Tourism tax on paid overnight stays. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax. The tax rates depend on the cost of the stay (gross amount):

Up to €10: €0.50
€10.01 – €25: €1.50
€25.01 – €50: €3.00
€50.01 – €100: €4.00
For each additional €50, the tax increases by €1

Hosts must declare the tax to the city according to the Accommodation Tax Statutes.

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