It is difficult to catch black market landlords, but a big change may come soon.

A significant portion of short-term rentals in Budapest is illegal, with estimates suggesting that around 32% of listings on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com are non-compliant. GuestGuru's research indicates that local authorities are losing substantial tax revenue due to these unregulated rentals. The company attempted to report illegal listings but faced challenges in getting responses from authorities. While some districts have their own methods for identifying illegal rentals, discrepancies exist in how data is interpreted. GuestGuru claims their database can help authorities conduct more effective checks, but only a few districts have shown interest in utilizing this resource. The situation highlights the need for better regulation and oversight in the short-term rental market.