Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BERLIN (AP) - Authorities in Berlin are planning to crack down on private vacation apartment rentals, citing a shortage of affordable housing in the German capital.
Local lawmakers voted to pass a bill Thursday requiring anyone who rents out a private apartment for short periods of time to obtain official permission.
The move could affect an estimated 15,000 apartments in Berlin that are currently being rented to tourists and other short-term visitors.
Center-left lawmaker Iris Spranger says there would be a two-year transition period to help businesses that have specialized in such rentals.
Online apartment booking sites such as Airbnb.com have protested the plan. The site claims visitors who book through its system contribute 100 million euros ($135 million) to the city's economy each year.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
