Short-term rentals, among the new rules fines of up to 5 thousand euros for those who do not expose the national code – Corriere.it

The government’s tightening of short-term tourist rentals takes shape: the Ministry of Tourism has approved a bill that establishes a minimum stay of two nights in the historic centers of large Italian cities and towns. The aim is to provide a uniform national regulation aimed at tackling the risk of oversized tourism compared to local accommodation potential and at safeguarding the residential nature of historic centers and preventing depopulation.

The National Identifier Code (Cin)

The draft of the provision, sent by the legislative office of Minister Daniela Santanch to all operators in the sector on 29 May, also provides in article 3 that each apartment for residential use leased for tourist purposes has a national identification code (Cin), in contrast to regional fragmentation of the regulations. This must be displayed on the various platforms, such as Airbnb and Booking, but also at the entrance to the house itself. Article 6 defines any sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the new rules, such as a fine in the absence of the code up to a maximum value of 5,000 euros for those who rent and up to 3,000 for websitesb.

Minimum stay of 2 nights

The minimum stay of two nights is the move by the ministry to meet the hotel sector, which has always been in competition – often reported as “unfair” – with the short-term rental market. In the case of stays of just one night, in fact, the only possible solution will be to resort to a traditional accommodation facility. Specifically, Article 4 provides the obligation to apply the legislation in the historic centers of the 14 metropolitan cities (including Rome, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence and Naples), but also in the municipalities with a high tourist density, which are about a thousand out of the total of 78,882 in Italy. On the other hand, villages with less than 5,000 inhabitants are excluded. To date, however, single-day stays represent about 5% of the short-term rental market in the country.

The property managers

The bill also recognizes the role of property managers, a figure – represented by an individual or a company – who has the task of managing one or more properties on behalf of the owners in order to protect and increase its value. With article 5, Istat is asked to open a specific Ateco Code to represent the category, in order to confirm their obligation to act as a withholding agent, paying the dry coupon on behalf of the owners who rely on their services. Furthermore, the provision establishes that property managers can request the opening of the Scia (certified report of start of activity) in the name and on behalf of the owner, an operation currently impossible in some areas of Italy (for example the municipality of Rome). The declaration becomes mandatory for anyone who carries out the short-term rental business at an entrepreneurial level, i.e. with more than four homes.

The process foresees that the bill approved by the Ministry of Tourism passes to Parliament, with the involvement of the subjects of the sector – platforms, hoteliers and mayors – who will be able to propose interventions and modifications.