Berlin curbs Airbnb rentals to cool market

Berlin

BERLIN from Sunday began restricting private property rentals through Airbnb and similar on-line platforms, threatening hefty fines in a controversial move meant to keep housing affordable for locals.

The German capital fears that the growing trend of people letting out apartments to tourists through sites such as Airbnb, Wimdu and 9Flats is cutting into a limited property supply and driving up rents.