Airbnb and other home - sharing platforms are awaiting a ruling , due today , by a Berlin city court on the legality of home - sharing in the city . The practice is currently banned in Berlin , and people caught renting out their homes for less than six months can expect fines of up to € ##500 and although landlords can apply for a permit , 95 % of such requests are rejected . This does not seem to have deterred Berliners however , as Airbnb currently has 11,700 listings in the city . If the court rules in favour of home - sharing , the ruling would obviously not have legally binding consequences in other regions , although it is thought it would have repercussions across Europe . Although a positive verdict would not have binding legal consequences for other jurisdictions, experts expect it to have repercussions throughout Europe, as cities try to balance the interests of the travel and tourism industry with those of tenants who fear rising rents. " Cities are closely watching each other to see what types of regulations are possible and Berlin 's verdict will surely influence the behaviour of other cities , " said Gracia Vara Arribas , a lawyer who advises the court on the sharing economy .
Airbnb and other home - sharing platforms are awaiting a ruling , due today , by a Berlin city court on the legality of home - sharing in the city . The practice is currently banned in Berlin , and people caught renting out their homes for less than six months can expect fines of up to € ##500 and although landlords can apply for a permit , 95 % of such requests are rejected . This does not seem to have deterred Berliners however , as Airbnb currently has 11,700 listings in the city . If the court rules in favour of home - sharing , the ruling would obviously not have legally binding consequences in other regions , although it is thought it would have repercussions across Europe . " Cities are closely watching each other to see what types of regulations are possible and Berlin 's verdict will surely influence the behaviour of other cities , " said Gracia Vara Arribas , a lawyer who advises the court on the sharing economy .