If you wish to rent out your own living space on a short-term basis, you must apply for a housing protection number.
If you wish to temporarily let other people use your apartment or parts of it, you will need a housing protection number.
Registration is always required, even if your use does not require approval.
You also need a housing protection number if you want to offer rooms that are not residential space on a holiday apartment portal or similar media.
You must clearly display the housing protection number in every advertisement or promotion for the letting.
You are the authorized user of the living space in question.
The housing in question is not subsidized housing.
You want to temporarily rent out living space to changing users or place advertisements or ads for it.
You will need your BundID or My Company Account to register.
No
Registration does not exempt you from the notification and registration obligations for the cultural and tourism tax.
Further information can be obtained from the Hamburg tax authorities.
The housing protection number expires if you are no longer personally entitled to use the specified living space.
Letting someone else use their own apartment for no more than eight weeks per calendar year does not require approval, but still requires a housing protection number.
Publishing advertisements without a housing protection number or with false information is an administrative offense and can be punished with a fine of up to 500,000 euros.
No
You can apply for the housing protection number online via the Hamburg service portal.
- Log in with BundID or My Business Account and open the online service Register Housing Protection Number.
- Click on “Issue new housing protection number” and confirm the privacy policy.
- Enter your personal details as well as information about the type of rooms and their intended use.
- Check your details in the overview and click on "Submit data".
If you use the apartment in your main residence without a permit, you will usually receive the housing protection number automatically. You can use the number immediately.
If a number could not be automatically assigned or if your use requires a permit, your responsible district office will contact you.
The number is usually generated automatically immediately.
No
No
Section 13 paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of the Hamburg Housing Protection Act ( HmbWoSchG )
https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-WoPflGHAV4P13
Keywords: Misappropriation of living space Holiday apartment Airbnb Apartment for workers Short term rentals Registration number
Last updated: 10.06.2026