It is reminded that anyone maintaining or operating a self-catering accommodation without a registration licence is guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to a fine of up to €5,000.
With the tourist season effectively having started, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism reminds all those offering properties for short-term rental that they must be registered in the Register of Self-Catering Accommodation.
Essentially, the Deputy Ministry is once again calling on interested parties to comply with the provisions of the current legislation, warning that if owners and operators of self-catering accommodation (such as Airbnb-type properties) do not register and obtain the necessary licence, they are acting unlawfully and may face penalties upon conviction – a fine of up to €5,000 or imprisonment for up to one year.
The new announcement from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism was issued just this past Saturday and forms part of its ongoing effort to ensure compliance by all those operating in this sector and advertising their properties through electronic platforms, stressing the obligation to register with the Ministry’s Register. This is aimed, among other things, at achieving a clearer picture of the situation in the country, as well as addressing the reactions and continuous pressure from the hotel industry, which complains of unfair competition from self-catering accommodations and calls for further regulation of their operation.
Specifically, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism reiterated last Saturday that, under the “Regulation of the Establishment and Operation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation Law”, the owner/operator of any self-catering accommodation may only advertise and/or rent the property provided that it is registered in the Register of Self-Catering Accommodation and has obtained a registration licence and registration number from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism. This number must be displayed in all advertisements and/or promotions of the property, as well as in all related transactions. It is noted that registration is carried out through the Deputy Ministry’s corporate website, where interested parties can register their accommodation and secure a registration licence.
Finally, it is pointed out that, according to the provisions of the Law, anyone maintaining or operating a self-catering accommodation without a registration licence, or whose licence has been revoked, is guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, is subject to a prison sentence not exceeding one (1) year or a fine not exceeding five thousand euros (€5,000), or both penalties. If the offence continues after conviction, the person is guilty of a further offence and is subject to an additional fine not exceeding two hundred euros (€200) for each day the violation continues.
Based on the latest data presented recently in Parliament during a discussion of the issue and its wider impact on the housing crisis and society, as of the end of February, 8,248 accommodations were registered in the Register of Self-Catering Accommodation, while a further 1,275 applications were still pending examination.
Also read: Legal setback delays efforts to regulate Airbnb in Cyprus
Source: Economy Today
