Politics
Oud West Council Passes Short-Term Rental Licensing Ordinance, Applying Tighter Caps Than Regional Peers
The July 7 vote sets a 90-day annual limit on short-term rentals in Oud West, requiring registration for all hosts and directing compliance staff to begin enforcement in January 2027.
How we reported this
The Oud West City Council approved the Short-Term Rental Licensing Ordinance on July 7 by an 8-3 margin, requiring every property offered for stays under 30 days to obtain an annual licence and restricting each listing to no more than 90 rental days per calendar year.
Regional Comparisons
Under the new rules Oud West joins a growing list of municipalities that have introduced day caps, yet sets a lower threshold than the 120-day limit adopted by the adjacent municipality of East Harbour last year. Policy analysts note that three other cities in the same metropolitan region allow 150 days without additional fees, while Oud West adds a requirement for hosts to prove primary residence status before a licence is issued.
The ordinance states that licence fees will be set at 250 euros per year, with proceeds allocated to the municipal housing office for inspection and complaint response. This fee structure matches the amount charged in North Ridge but exceeds the 180-euro fee in South Vale, where no day cap applies.
Effects on Local Residents
Residents seeking long-term rentals in the Oud West central district may see more units return to the permanent market once the 90-day cap takes effect. Property owners who currently list apartments for short stays will need to choose between converting units to year-round leases or limiting operations to three months. The legislation states that existing listings must complete registration by 31 December 2026 or face removal from booking platforms.
The 2026 Municipal Budget Report projects that the new licensing system will generate 300,000 euros in its first full year, funding two additional compliance officers who will conduct random checks on registered addresses. Local advocates note that households in multi-unit buildings near the canal district have filed the largest number of noise complaints linked to short-term stays in the past 12 months.
Enforcement begins with a six-month education period, after which fines of 500 euros per violation will be issued. The housing department is expected to publish the first quarterly compliance report in April 2027, detailing the number of licences issued and any properties removed from short-term platforms.