Poland adopts amendment to regulate short-term rentals

The Polish government has adopted an amendment to regulate short-term rentals, granting housing communities, cooperatives, and local municipalities the authority to ban or restrict such activities. The goal is to address issues regarding public order, safety, and the comfort of permanent residents in areas heavily impacted by tourist rentals on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.

Under the proposed legislation, municipalities may designate specific zones where short-term rentals are prohibited or limited by time. Housing communities and cooperatives can pass resolutions to ban daily rentals within their buildings, providing operators a six-month grace period to cease operations. Additionally, residents will gain the right to request inspections; if three violations of order or safety are recorded within six months, the property may be removed from the official registry of hotel services.

Short-term rentals of up to 30 days will be legally classified as hotel services, requiring registration in a Central List of Tourist Accommodation Objects with unique identification numbers. Administrative fines for non-compliance can reach 50,000 PLN. While full implementation is slated for 2028, certain provisions regarding safety and order may take effect sooner.

Separately, a proposed amendment to the Tenant Protection Act would require residents to allow owners or managers access to apartments for technical inspections and emergency repairs, with potential fines of up to 5,000 PLN for refusal.