AFP, The Hague :
Amsterdam has slapped a record fine of 297,000 euros ($318,000) on a landlord and agency which broke council rules in renting out 11 apartments via home-sharing giant Airbnb, officials said Monday.
“We were called in by the neighbours who complained of disturbances,” said city spokeswoman Jeanine Harders. “After investigating we found that they were illegally renting out apartments.”
The owners and the agency which listed the apartments on Airbnb must each pay 13,500 euros for each of the 11 apartments, situated in the centre of the busy Dutch capital.
“It’s the usual fine, but multiplied by 11 that makes it a record,” she said, adding that the municipality had imposed almost 200 such fines in 2016.
