Rental management in the era of new legal regulations – what will change in 2025?

The short-term rental market in Poland, especially in popular tourist cities such as Gdańsk, Gdynia or Sopot, is constantly growing. However, the dynamic development of the industry is associated with an increasing number of legal regulations. The year 2025 may prove to be particularly important for apartment owners, due to a number of new regulations, which, if introduced, may significantly affect the way short-term rentals are conducted. To avoid unnecessary complications, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the planned changes and preparing for them well in advance.

Mandatory registration of short-term rentals

The biggest change planned for 2025 may be the introduction of a mandatory nationwide register of short-term rentals. All owners of apartments offered on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com or other rental portals will be required to register their premises in a special database. So far, similar solutions have operated locally (e.g. Krakow), but from 2025 this obligation will probably be extended to the entire country, including the Tri-City.

Registration will involve the need to provide detailed information about the rented premises and their owner. In the event of failure to register or providing false information, high financial penalties are foreseen. To avoid problems, apartment owners should organize the documentation regarding their properties now and monitor legislative progress on an ongoing basis.

Limit on short-term rental days in the Tri-City

The new regulations may also include the introduction of a limit on short-term rental days, especially in cities where the intensity of tourism significantly affects the real estate market, as in the case of Sopot or Gdańsk. The proposed regulations assume a specified maximum period of short-term rental per year. This regulation is intended to limit the negative impact of tourism on the availability of apartments for permanent residents and counteract the gentrification of city centers.

To effectively prepare for this limitation, owners should consider diversifying their business model now. A good solution may be to focus on business tourism, the booking cycles of which differ from typical holiday ones.

Increased tax audits and reporting obligations

Another significant change may concern tax and reporting obligations. In 2025, tax audits are to be intensified, the aim of which is to eliminate the grey zone and unreported income from short-term rentals. Tax offices will receive extended powers to obtain data directly from booking platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.com, which will allow for more effective tax enforcement.

In practice, this means that owners will have to take special care to properly document all transactions related to apartment rentals and regularly submit the required tax returns. It is worth considering cooperation with an accounting office now, which will help organize documentation and ensure compliance of activities with new requirements.

Tourist tax - Tricity at the forefront of changes

From 2025, the Tricity is also planning to introduce an additional tourist tax (so-called local or climate fee), applicable to all renters. So far, such a fee has operated mainly in hotels and holiday resorts, but soon the obligation to collect it will also be extended to apartments rented by private individuals.

The tourist tax will be collected from each person renting an apartment, and its amount will depend on the length of stay and the standard of the property. Owners will be required to record the fees collected and transfer them to the commune's account. To prepare for this, it is worth investing in professional tools for managing reservations and settling the tourist tax in advance.

How to effectively prepare for legal changes?

In connection with the planned regulations, it is worth considering cooperation with a professional property management company, such as BillBerry Apartments. Thanks to experience and current knowledge of legal changes, our company can take over the administrative burden associated with new obligations. Thanks to professional management, owners avoid the risk of financial penalties, errors in documentation or tax negligence.

BillBerry Apartments offers comprehensive short-term rental services, thanks to which apartment owners can focus on maximizing profits, without worrying about violating the law.

Thanks to cooperation with BillBerry Apartments, property owners in Gdańsk, Sopot or Gdynia can calmly enter 2025, being well prepared for the new regulations. Professional support provides them with the comfort of running a business and guarantees that short-term rental will remain a profitable business despite possible legal changes.