Data Analysis Reveals How 'Mega-Hosts' Dominate Bratislava's Airbnb Market

A data analysis by the Investigative Centre of Ján Kuciak (ICJK) has revealed that Bratislava's short-term rental market is largely controlled by a small number of powerful landlords who disguise their commercial operations behind first names and informal profiles on Airbnb. These so-called mega-hosts — individuals or entities managing large numbers of properties — have effectively cornered the platform in Slovakia's capital, raising questions about fair competition, tax compliance, and housing affordability in the city. Rather than the platform functioning as intended — connecting ordinary residents who occasionally rent out spare rooms — Bratislava's Airbnb market appears dominated by professional operators running multiple listings simultaneously. By presenting themselves under casual first names, these hosts blend in with genuine private users, making their scale of operation difficult to detect at first glance. The findings are significant in the broader European context, where cities including Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Vienna have moved to restrict or regulate short-term rentals after studies showed such platforms reduce the availability of long-term housing and drive up rents for residents. Bratislava, which has faced a growing housing affordability problem in recent years, has yet to introduce comparable regulatory measures targeting large-scale Airbnb operators. The ICJK, named after Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak who was murdered in 2018, specialises in data-driven investigative reporting on economic and public interest issues.