Those who own Airbnb properties in Cyprus are requested to register as soon as possible with the register and the tax department. Otherwise, if they are identified on Airbnb and Booking.com type platforms, they will be subject to heavy penalties.
The Deputy Ministry of Tourism of Meganon recalled that according to the relevant regulation, the operator/manager of any self-catering accommodation can only advertise and/or rent the accommodation if it is registered in the Register of Self-Catering Accommodation and has obtained a registration permit and registration number. This number, it points out, should be indicated in the advertising and/or promotion of the accommodation, as well as in all related transactions.
There is an online platform for the registration of self-catering accommodation in the register of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.
According to the provisions of the relevant legislation, anyone who maintains or operates self-catering accommodation without a registration permit or whose registration permit has been revoked is guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to EUR 5,000 or both.
If the infringement continues after conviction, he shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable to a further fine not exceeding two hundred euros (€200) for each day of continuation of the infringement.
The registration permit must be renewed every three years, within three months before the expiry of the existing registration.
According to data from the State Ministry, as of June 2021 to date, 7,000 properties, houses and apartments, corresponding to 15,000 rooms and around 30,000 beds, have been registered in the register.
The number of undeclared Airbnb accommodation in Cyprus may, however, be even twice as high, the Parliament was told.
