“This City Is Crazy”: Cape Town’s New Airbnb Laws Breakdown Sparks Mixed Feelings

• Cape Town published a draft by-law that will require all Airbnb and short-term rental properties to register with the city and display a registration number
• Content creator EJV broke down what the new rules mean for property owners, hosts and travellers in a TikTok video that sparked fierce debate
• South Africans flooded the comments with strong opinions about the city’s latest move to regulate short-term rentals

Cape Town’s new rules for short-term rentals have South Africans fired up after content creator EJV posted a TikTok breakdown on 8 July 2026. The video unpacked a draft Short-Term Letting By-Law published by the City of Cape Town, and the reaction was swift.

Under the proposed by-law, every property listed on a booking platform like Airbnb must register with the city and display a registration number on all listings. Hosts and booking platforms will also be required to share data on listing availability with local authorities.

Read also

“Is it washing machine safe?”: SA gent’s can outfit spark mixed reactions on social media

What the new rules actually mean for hosts

According to reports, the City says the registration system is aimed at ensuring that properties used for commercial accommodation pay commercial property rates rather than residential ones. However, not every short-term rental will be affected equally.

Properties available for short-term letting for less than 50% of total annual room nights will be exempt from commercial rates. This means homeowners who occasionally rent out a spare room are unlikely to face higher charges. The 50% threshold is calculated across all bedrooms over a full 365-day period.

Any changes to a property’s rating category will take effect from 1 July 2027, based on data collected through the new registration system.

Cape Town’s move is part of a broader national shift. In March 2026, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille published a Code of Good Practice for Short-Term Rentals for public comment, which sets out conduct obligations for hosts, including rules around noise and disruption.

Read also

“Just give her the cash”: SA backs furious gogo confronting Hungry Lion staff over alleged double charge

Watch EJV’s full breakdown of the new Cape Town Airbnb laws on TikTok:

Mzansi weighs in on the new rules

South Africans in the comments section on @ejv_27’s TikTok did not hold back.

@Mohamad Ebrahim said:

“City are big criminals. This is completely unacceptable and unnecessary. What on earth are they trying to achieve? Stealing people's money.”

@Fly on the wall 💙 asked:

“Is there any new laws for politicians and earning money or lifestyle audits?”

@TheAfricanrhino explained:

“Rates in Cape Town, the city centre, can be as little as R17K a month. If you bought in the 2000s, you’re paying more in rates than your repayments to the bank. You want to know why rent is so expensive in the city? A third to a half of what you pay is going to the rates.”

Source: Briefly News