Bornholm local government tightens regulations on flexible-use properties to limit rentals

Dilapidated houses on the Danish island of Bornholm found new life after the residential obligation was lifted in several smaller towns in 2013. However, the local government is now tightening regulations on flexible-use properties, hoping to reduce intensive rentals and encourage longer-term residency in these homes.

As of November 10, new rules will limit future flexible-use properties to rental for only 14 weeks a year, down from the current 41 weeks. This change has raised concerns among property owners like Thomas Glud from Gudhjem, who is selling a house in Østermarie that could qualify for flexible-use status but has not yet applied. “It’s quite radical, especially if someone buys a house that can only financially sustain itself through rental,” he commented, emphasizing the significance of rental income for many owners.

On October 10, a majority of the Bornholm municipal council voted to implement these stricter rental regulations with just one month’s notice, which Marc Uhrenholt, president of the Association of Flexible Property Owners on Bornholm, believes places homeowners in a difficult position. He argues that the municipality should notify all affected homeowners about the new rules, which could impact their property values.

Linda Kofoed Persson, chair of the Business, Housing, and Employment Committee and a Conservative party member, defended the council’s position, asserting that homeowners had ample opportunity over 11 years to secure flexible-use status. She argued that if individuals intend to rent out a property, they should be looking for a vacation home rather than a flexible-use property.

Concerns also arise from the tourism sector, with Gitte Tvilling, director of Destination Bornholm, warning that the new restrictions could lead to lost tourism revenue and an underutilization of vacant homes, especially during peak travel periods.