The Polish Sejm has forwarded a bill proposed by Poland 2050, regulating short-term rentals, to the Culture, Physical Education, Sport and Tourism Committee for review.
Bill Referral and Initial Vote
On Friday, the Sejm, after its first reading, referred the Poland 2050 bill concerning short-term rentals to the relevant parliamentary committee. The legislation proposes, among other things, the introduction of mandatory registration for providers of such services.
A majority of MPs voted in favor of sending the bill to the Committee on Culture, Physical Education, Sport and Tourism. The Sejm rejected a motion from the Razem coalition to proceed directly to a second reading, as well as a Confederation motion to reject the bill outright at the first reading.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Legislation
The bill, drafted by Poland 2050 MPs, proposes mandatory registration of short-term rental services. This registration would be managed by voivodes, mayors, and city presidents through a teleinformatic system. Authors believe this will determine the scale of services offered in a given area and prevent a reduction in long-term rental availability.
Penalties for non-compliance with the registration requirement could reach up to 50,000 PLN.
Expected Impacts and Local Regulations
Proponents of the changes believe they will limit excessive tourism, improve public order and safety, and facilitate the collection of local fees. The bill also allows municipal councils to establish detailed rules for short-term rentals through resolutions.
Furthermore, the consent of a housing community or cooperative would be required to conduct short-term rentals in multi-family buildings.
Opposition Concerns Regarding Overregulation
During Wednesday’s plenary debate, MPs from PiS and Konfederacja voiced strong criticism of the bill. They argued that the proposed changes constitute overregulation, infringe upon constitutional property rights, stifle entrepreneurship, and create unequal treatment of citizens.
They pointed out that individuals in one municipality could be deprived of the right to offer short-term rentals, while neighboring municipalities might have no such restrictions.
Comparison with Government Proposal
MPs from the Civic Coalition reminded the Sejm that the government published a draft amendment to the Hotel Services Act and the Tour Guide and Tourist Guide Act in December, prepared by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism (MSiT). This draft also includes regulations for short-term rentals.
They assessed that the solutions contained in the government’s draft are superior to those proposed in the parliamentary bill.
Government Draft Provisions
The government’s draft amendment grants municipal councils the authority to designate zones where hotel services (including short-term rentals) cannot be provided in facilities other than hotels. It also introduces the possibility for residents of multi-family or single-family buildings, or authorized representatives of housing communities or cooperatives, to request inspections of properties offering short-term rentals.
