Concerns and Suggestions Regarding New Airbnb Regulations in Turkey
Dear Airbnb Community Center and Hosts from Türkiye,
As longtime Airbnb hosts in Turkey, approaching our tenth year of hosting guests in Ankara, we have immensely enjoyed the experience of sharing our homes and witnessing the happiness of our guests. However, we find ourselves growing increasingly concerned about the impending regulations that could potentially impact the future of Airbnb in Turkey.
It has come to our attention that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which has a significant stake in the travel industry and hotels, is considering new regulations that may have far-reaching consequences for hosts like us. While we anticipated some level of regulation, the proposed requirements appear to be disproportionate and unrelated to the unique nature of Airbnb hosting.
One of the most significant concerns is the demand for fire escapes in our properties. In Turkey, a vast majority of buildings do not have fire escapes, and this requirement places an undue burden on hosts. Additionally, the use of hotel management systems and the Identity Notification System would result in additional expenses.
Another challenging aspect is obtaining permission from each building occupant, which is likely to involve a complex bureaucratic process, paperwork, and various certificates. This could potentially transform hosts into professional hotel or hostel owners, complicating our engagement with Airbnb and regular rental activities.
We anticipate that hosts may need to establish formal companies and engage certified public accountants, incurring additional costs. While we understand the need for taxation, Airbnb should engage with the Turkish government to ensure taxes are paid on the profits generated in Turkey. This can pave the way for meaningful discussions on regulations for hosts.
We firmly believe that hosts in Turkey should contribute their fair share in taxes, but the current tax system is challenging for hosts as they cannot deduct all expenses from their Airbnb income.
We urge the tax office to work on practical solutions to address this issue.
In summary, we propose a constructive approach:
1. Instead of imposing a complete ban, regulations should be designed to make Airbnb hosting feasible while ensuring compliance with reasonable standards.
2. Airbnb should proactively engage with the Turkish government to address tax concerns, as exemplified by similar tech companies elsewhere.
We hope that our concerns are heard, and a balanced approach is taken that preserves the vibrant Airbnb community in Turkey while addressing valid regulatory concerns.
Warm regards,
Alper
