Ministry of Tourism: The operational standards for short-term rentals

The Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, today presented to the Cabinet the draft bill on the new operational standards for short-term rental accommodation. The bill proposed by the Ministry of Tourism aims to establish a single framework for safety and functionality standards for properties available through short-term rentals, accompanied by controls on compliance with these standards and penalties in case of non-compliance.

In particular, the new guidelines require short-term rental accommodation to have:

• Liability insurance for any damage or accident that may occur during the guests’ stay.
• The installation of fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, as well as a statement from an electrician, an earth leakage breaker or earth leakage relay, and emergency exit signs.
• A certificate of fumigation, a pharmacy with first aid supplies and a guide with emergency telephone numbers for the convenience of visitors in the event of an emergency.
• Premises intended primarily for residential use, with adequate natural lighting, ventilation and air conditioning to ensure the comfort of visitors.

In addition, the bill introduces the creation of a classification system for tourist accommodation based on sustainability criteria, with the aim of improving the sustainability of the sector.

It is worth noting that many of these operational standards had already been proposed by the Association of Property Managers (Stama) in a letter to the relevant ministries. Stama had proposed mandatory measures such as liability insurance for all registered properties, the presence of fire extinguishers and emergency exits, pharmacy and disinfection of accommodation, and the use of security relays. It also proposed the inclusion of sustainability practices such as the use of renewable electricity, the use of energy-efficient electrical appliances (such as air conditioners and modern stoves), LED light bulbs, water consumption control systems, biodegradable toiletries and waste recycling.

The proposed law reflects market suggestions, as expressed by Stama, and aims to improve the services offered by ensuring high safety and sustainability standards in short-term rental accommodation.