Airbnb removes Romanian listings in high-risk seismic buildings

Airbnb has begun a verification process in Romania to remove apartment listings located in buildings classified under Seismic Risk I (RsI). This category represents the highest level of danger, indicating a high probability of total or partial collapse during a major earthquake.

The move follows stricter Romanian legislation, specifically Law no. 212/2022 and Law no. 426/2023, which expressly prohibit the rental of spaces in RsI-rated buildings. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 10,000 lei. The inclusion of seismic risk levels in land registry records has made verifying the legal status of these properties easier.

According to the Association for Tourism and Property Rental (ATIP), Airbnb is notifying affected owners, granting them 14 days to prove their property is not in the RsI category or that its status has changed. Acceptable documentation includes updated land registry extracts, technical expertise reports from authorized specialists, documents confirming completed consolidation works, or official confirmations from local authorities. Airbnb noted that a standard tourism classification certificate is insufficient, as it does not necessarily include seismic risk verification.