The panorama of short-term rentals in Italy is about to receive an important regulatory innovation with the introduction of National identification codea move aimed at regulating and legitimizing a rapidly expanding industry.
This new code presents itself as an anti-fraud solution, crucially necessary to manage the over 500,000 homes currently advertised for short-term rentals. With the recent green light for the interoperability of regional databases, the sector is ready to make a significant qualitative leap.
The Decree on the interoperability of databases
In response to the growing complexity of the short-term rental market, the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, under the leadership of Daniele D'Amario, has given the green light to a fundamental decree for the interoperability of regional databases.
This decree, conceived by Ministry of Tourism, marks a decisive step towards a unified system of registration and control of short-term rentals. With the aim of combating fraud and increasing transparency, the decree will allow existing codes to be linked to a national database, thus facilitating the management and verification of accommodation facilities throughout the national territory.
The process towards the complete implementation of the National Identification Code for short-term rentals is already outlined: after the approval of the decree, scheduled for May, an experimental phase will follow which will begin in September. The success of this phase will lead to the official publication of the post-summer decree, with a subsequent 60-day window for its full entry into force.
But what will be the sanctions for those who do not comply with the decree?
Penalties for those who fail to comply with the new system will be severe, signaling a radical change in regulation of the sector. This code will not only increase consumer confidence, but will also ensure compliance with the law, including the payment of taxes due.
A key element of the new regulation is the visibility of the National Identification Code (CIN). Each real estate unit used for short-term rental must display the CIN clearly outside the building and include it in every advertisement.
This measure not only facilitates control by the authorities, but also strengthens the perception of safety and legality for guests.
The Italian regions that already use similar codes will have to integrate their systems with the national database, following the directives of the new decree. Failure to comply with these regulations will expose owners to significant sanctionsintensifying the fight against tax evasion and illegal practices in the sector.
The impact on short-term rental numbers
The new national database awaits to be populated by a significant amount of data, as reported by Il Sole 24 Ore. Currently, there are over 500,000 homes advertised for short-term rentals in Italy, a number that demonstrates the broad interest and activity in the sector.
With the new coding system, each property will have to have an identification code that will act as a “mark of quality”, thus ensuring compliance and reliability for both guests and tax authorities.
This system will not only promote transparency but also help maintain a balance between the tourism boom and compliance with local regulations.
