Short-term rental rules by country

Since 8 July 2026, apartments and rooms rented to tourists in Romania need a tourism classification, and private individuals can classify at most 7 rooms and 14 places in total. Here's what that means for hosts, plus the tax and EU rules that apply in 2026.

There's no single UK rule: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each set their own. Here's what hosts need to know in 2026, from London's 90-night limit to Scotland's licences and the end of the holiday-let tax rules.

In Spain, holiday rentals are regulated by each region and city. In May 2026 the Supreme Court annulled the national registration number, but regional licences, guest registration with the police and the new powers of owners' communities all still apply.

Italy has one national code for every short-term rental, the CIN, plus guest reporting to the police and safety rules. From 2026, letting three or more apartments short-term counts as a business. Regions and cities can add their own rules.

France tightened the rules for holiday rentals (meublés de tourisme) with the Le Meur law of November 2024: registration everywhere, smaller tax breaks and more power for cities and co-owners. Here's what applies to hosts in 2026.

In Germany, short-term rental rules are set by each state and city, mostly through laws against misusing housing (Zweckentfremdung). Berlin, Hamburg and Munich are the strictest. Here's what to check in 2026.

In Portugal, short-term rentals are 'Alojamento Local' (AL) and need a registration number before you take guests. The 2024 reform gave councils more control: Lisbon, Porto and other cities limit new registrations in busy areas.

In Greece, every short-term rental must be registered with the tax authority (AADE) and show its registration number (AMA). New minimum standards, a per-night climate resilience fee and a freeze on new registrations in central Athens now apply too.