Strobl seeks to resolve legal uncertainty at former hotel

The municipality of Strobl is seeking to clarify the legal status of the former Hotel Seethurn, a 150-room building now used for apartments, second homes and rented rooms, ORF reports. Ownership has been divided among many people, and the municipality says the current arrangement is not legally compliant.

Some owners live in their units, while others use them as second homes. Some rooms are rented out as hotel rooms despite there being no hotel operation, and other units are offered as holiday apartments on online platforms. Some owners pay a tourism levy even though they are not permitted to rent out their units, according to the report. Other buyers have converted individual hotel rooms into apartments.

Strobl Mayor Harald Humer (SPÖ) said the building’s use does not align with zoning rules, building regulations and rental requirements. The municipal offices for registration, accounting and building matters have been dealing with the former hotel for years.

Humer said the municipality now wants to establish a workable arrangement that meets building regulations and ensures the zoning designation matches how the rooms are used.