Local Law and a Global Phenomenon: Local Governments Facing Short-Term Rentals
Short-term rental has become a fully fledged segment of the accommodation market in Poland, developing its own operational models, technologies, and service chains. However, its dynamic growth is generating increasing tensions: cities are demanding effective regulatory tools, businesses expect uniform and enforceable rules, and the state seeks greater tax transparency and compliance with European Union regulations.
These topics formed the core of the panel “Local Law and a Global Phenomenon: Local Governments Facing Short-Term Rentals,” held during the Forum of Local and Regional Authorities in Zakopane. Participants in the discussion included: Antoni Byrdy, Mayor of Szczyrk; Ireneusz Raś, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism; Kamil Krzyżanowski, President of the Management Board of Renters Sp. z o.o.; Marlena Kosiura, tourism market analyst from the portal “Inwestycje w Kurortach”; and Wiktor Wróbel, President of the Management Board of the Nosalowy Dwór Hotel. The discussion was moderated by Rafał Romanowski, editor-in-chief of Re:view magazine.
At the outset, Minister Ireneusz Raś presented the assumptions behind the planned regulations intended to bring order to the market and ensure uniform standards. “We want to introduce a central register and clear rules, but with respect for property rights,” he emphasized. He indicated that the new regulations will include, among other things, a definition of hotel services, the obligation to adopt a house order policy, and administrative fines for failing to register in the official records, as well as granting municipalities the right to create restricted rental zones. “The goal is to improve safety, not to burden individual apartments with the same requirements as hotels,” he added, referring to plans to bring minimum fire-safety standards closer to those applicable to guesthouses.
Marlena Kosiura from “Inwestycje w Kurortach” highlighted the lack of reliable market data. “The Ministry of Finance has precise data, but it does not share them with the market or with local governments,” she noted, stressing that this complicates local policy planning. She pointed out that the market in tourist destinations is, to some extent, self-organizing by shifting offers from residential areas to zones more prepared for heavy tourist traffic, such as coastal strips.
Meanwhile, Kamil Krzyżanowski of Renters presented an estimated scale of the market—according to him, 60–80 thousand apartments operate as short-term rentals in Poland, around 60 thousand of them year-round. “The sector generates 3–4 billion PLN in annual revenue, but up to 35% of the market operates in the grey zone,” he said.
The voice of the residents was represented by Antoni Byrdy, Mayor of Szczyrk, who vividly described the burdens faced by local communities. “Residents cannot be the victims of tourism development—they must benefit from it,” he said, pointing to problems related to noise, parties in apartments, rising waste-disposal costs, and strain on infrastructure. He also emphasized the need for equal treatment of all operators. “If someone is running a business, they must pay the appropriate dues. That is fair to those who operate legally,” he noted.
Wiktor Wróbel, president of the Nosalowy Dwór Hotel, tried to balance the perspectives of hotels and apartments. “This is not a zero-sum game. Apartments meet different needs—they are often more accessible for families,” he said. He stressed, however, that tax enforcement and predictable regulations are crucial. “Digitalization benefits everyone—it improves transparency and reduces abuse,” he assessed.
Another issue requiring urgent solutions is the anonymity of guests. President Krzyżanowski pointed out that today reservations often do not require reliable identity verification, which facilitates loud parties and other abuses. The proposed solution: online check-in with document verification, following the model used in many European countries, such as the Czech Republic. This would increase resident safety, support the work of services, and raise service standards.
Minister Raś announced the introduction of minimum regulation requirements, such as providing contact information for the owner or manager, which will help civilize operations in facilities without reception desks while increasing safety. These rules will be enforced by municipalities—through mandatory registration, the obligation to display an information plate, and the ability to suspend registration and impose administrative fines of up to 50,000 PLN.
A great deal of attention during the panel was also devoted to the tourist tax. Minister Raś pointed out that the current system is fragmented and does not cover many major destinations, which—he said—“is an anomaly compared to the rest of Europe.” Wiktor Wróbel summarized this part of the discussion by saying: “Let there be segmentation of offers, but let everyone pay their dues.” Mayor Byrdy added that transparent and enforceable fees are essential for social acceptance of intense tourism.
The conclusions of the panel were cohesive: short-term rentals cannot be suddenly stopped or drastically limited, because they are an important component of the tourism economy and local budgets. At the same time, negative effects—noise, pressure on infrastructure, and impacts on housing availability—must be mitigated. The participants emphasized the need for evolutionary, predictable, data-driven solutions. Recommendations include a central registry of properties linked to tax settlements, minimum safety and regulatory standards, the possibility of establishing restricted rental zones after a transition period, and a uniform tourist tax.
Short-term rental is a permanent element of modern tourism that requires not a revolution but smart regulation. The direction presented by the government—if implemented in dialogue with the industry and local governments—may provide a balance between the interests of businesses, residents, and tourists.
