‘Short-term rentals owners must be held fully accountable’: MHRA welcomes tourism law

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) welcomed the new tourism accommodation laws, which include new rules for short-term rental owners. 

“Enforcement is now critical. Specifically, the framework must ensure that owners of short-term rentals are held fully accountable, treating these as commercial business operations with clear obligations towards the State and local communities,” MHRA said.

The new laws, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg yesterday, introduce several new rules for short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, which have exploded in popularity in recent years. 

Short-term rentals will be capped at a maximum of two people per bedroom, up to a maximum of ten guests, while landlords will be obliged to install air conditioners as well as visible signage which includes the property’s MTA license number and the contact number of a person who is available 24/7.

Landlords must also send the MTA a declaration laying out how they intend to manage their guests’ waste collection.

These rules were announced as part of a wider reform that includes a ban on new one and two star hotels, a partial ban on new hostels, and the scrapping of a proviso that allowed hotels to exceed their height limits.

MHRA hailed the new framework as a “bold step” towards a higher-value tourism model. 

“This is a courageous and necessary decision that sends a clear message of confidence to operators and investors who have consistently invested in quality and in raising Malta’s tourism standards,” it said.

“They also show that Malta is prioritising tourism investment and accommodation supply that support a higher-quality, higher-value industry — one that delivers stronger returns, improves the visitor experience, strengthens competitiveness, reduces pressure on communities and infrastructure, and competes on quality rather than price alone.”

It added that further action is necessary in the restaurants, bars, and clubs sector to clamp down on unlicensed catering activities and non-compliant operations, including with regards to noise management and enforcement. 

Main Image: Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association