Italy has a new law on short-term rentals, so here’s what tourists planning to use one, or travel experts including one in a travel package, need to know.
Goodbye to lockboxes and hello to in-person check-ins
Passed in late 2024, this regulation bans the use of lockboxes for short-term rentals. It is part of an anti-terrorism measure, but also designed to curb the impact of short-term rentals on Italy’s historic neighborhoods, where tourism has driven up rents and displaced locals. Under the new law, property owners or managers must meet their guests in person for check-in, handing over the keys and offering a personal introduction to the property.
The ID requirement: more paperwork, more security
In addition to the face-to-face check-in another new requirement obliges hosts to take photos of the passports or IDs of the guests and submit them to local authorities. While this may feel intrusive, it’s part of Italy’s push for transparency in the rental market and it also ensures tax compliance among hosts. The new law evolved as a response to the growing strain tourism has been placing on Italy’s cities, with short-term rentals contributing to rising rents and the loss of local character in cities like Venice and Florence as well as in iconic destinations such as the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast.
What this means for travel specialists selling Italy
For travel specialists who create and sell holidays in Italy, and also for individual travellers, this means a little more planning. With no more self-check-ins at midnight, arrival times will need to be coordinated with the host. On the plus side, this is an opportunity for deeper engagement with the local culture and a more personal connection with the locals who are renting out their property. So, while the law does adds a layer of bureaucracy, it is a step toward a more responsible and sustainable way of experiencing Italy, and so can be considered a win-win.
