Make 2 out of 1 – divide up the apartment and list it on Airbnb
Small apartments have a big advantage when renting through Airbnb: they bring in hardly less money than apartments twice their size, and they are not suitable for party tourists, which is extremely beneficial for both the condition of the apartment and the nerves of the neighbors. So if an apartment is larger than 60 square meters and allows for two separate entrances, division is a good idea.
Another advantage: small apartments can later be sold much more quickly - in good locations they are usually only on the market for a few days.
In this case we have a property in a wonderful area of the 9th district, very close to the large market hall, Kalvin Platz and the Balna exhibition grounds on the Danube. Originally 68 sqm, divided into two 34 sqm apartments, each with its own electricity meter and entrance, so that later division in the land register will be possible.
By the way: This setup is also suitable if you want to buy an apartment with several people. So everyone raises exactly 50% of the sum and then owns a corresponding share in the land register.
Division and conversion of the apartment into two apartments
Of course, no stone was left unturned here.
- Division of the apartment also means: 2 kitchens, 2 bathrooms
- Electric underfloor heating
- Complementary inverter air conditioning
- Dismantling/removing the gas pipes
- Ceiling height 410 cm - this made it possible to create a steel-supported gallery (10 cm thick) and you can stand on both levels (as long as you are shorter than two meters)
- Furniture and equipment tailored to the Airbnb market and the city's approval criteria.
The Airbnb TÜV in Budapest – since 2020 it has not been possible without it
Since 2020, the situation for short-term rental in Budapest, but also in Hungary in general, has changed drastically. The city uses a long list of criteria to check the suitability of the apartment for the hospitality industry, i.e. the requirements are similar to those of the hotel industry.
The thickness of the mattress is then measured - if it is too thin, the apartment will fall through. Any examples?
- Are there gaps in the floor (old parquet)?
- Is there a dressing mirror,
- How many hangers are there?
- Does every guest have enough pillows, blankets,
- Does each guest have their own nightstand, and much more?
Living space on the gallery – better for short-term rental
The attentive observer may wonder why the living area with sofa and TV is at the top of the gallery instead of below it. This shows how different short-term and long-term rentals are. The long-term tenant likes to use the gallery as a sleeping area because the usually unmade bed is then out of sight. He also estimates the space gain, so that in his opinion the apartment has more than 42 square meters (8 square meters is the gallery) of usable space.
Airbnb customers, on the other hand, are more interested in how comfortable they are while sleeping, as that will be the main activity IN the apartment. In addition, anyone who wakes up at night in unfamiliar surroundings is often a little disoriented at first. If alcohol was involved, even more so. Then it is certainly a risk if someone middle-aged, sleepy and with a very urgent need, has to use the steep stairs.
That's why the gallery is made to gain space on the one hand, but at the same time it is ideal for a cozy evening watching TV if the weather is too bad.
You can book the apartments here:
- “Blue Room” Airbnb on Lonyai Street in the 9th district
- “Yellow Room” Airbnb on Lonyai Street in the 9th district
