Airbnb Tax Crackdown in Brussels: -23% of Listings in 2026 | Sabimmo Blog

In one year, Brussels lost nearly a quarter of its Airbnb supply. Behind the drop: an unprecedented campaign of tax fines. Here is what it means for property owners.

What the figures show

According to an analysis published in July 2026 by L'Écho, based on Inside Airbnb data, the number of properties listed on the platform in Brussels fell from about 6,171 listings in June 2025 to 4,750 in June 2026 — a drop of roughly 23%, or nearly 1,500 fewer listings. The decline mainly affects entire homes (about -24%), ahead of private rooms (about -20%).

Not every commune is affected equally. The steepest falls are seen in Forest (about -36%), Uccle and Etterbeek (about -34% each), while the City of Brussels holds up better (about -15%).

The cause: a wave of fines

This slowdown follows an operation by Brussels Taxation (Bruxelles Fiscalité). The regional administration used the data shared by Airbnb to send, the previous summer, around 1,900 fines, for an estimated total of between €1.5 and €2 million. Many operators who were renting without having registered were caught out — and some chose to remove their listing altogether.

What every owner should check

Renting short-term in Brussels means meeting several cumulative obligations, two of which should not be confused:

• Registration of the tourist accommodation with Brussels Economy and Employment, with a number that must appear on your listings. We explain the process in our guide Airbnb registration in Brussels.
• The regional tourist tax, to be declared and paid by the operator via the MyTax platform. In 2026 it amounts to €4 per night per occupant over 12 (amount to be verified with the administration).

On top of this come the declaration of your income and, for primary residences, a limit on how many nights you may rent. A compliant listing displays its registration number: today, that is the first thing an inspection looks for.

Should you worry? Better to get organised

The lesson of 2026 is not that you should flee short-term rentals: it is that the informal approach has no future. With automatic data sharing between platforms and administrations, compliance is now the baseline for renting with peace of mind — and for protecting the returns you expect.

This is exactly what a concierge service is for: at Sabimmo, we check your registration, handle the tourist tax and give you clear reporting, month after month. Discover our plans →