Bergen: majority back an Airbnb ban in the city centre — but the council lacks the legal power

A poll of Bergen residents found 52% support banning short-term whole-property rentals in the city centre. Bergen's Conservative Finance Commissioner acknowledged the municipality lacks the tools to act and secured council support to formally ask the state for clearer regulatory powers.

The host-residency test — banning commercial whole-property letting while allowing genuine home-sharing — transfers directly to Cornwall, the Lakes, Edinburgh, Bath or York; the deeper story is a council needing Oslo's permission to regulate its own housing stock, mirroring English councils' dependence on Whitehall for licensing powers.