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The growing market for short-term rentals in Bulgaria, driven by platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and others, has offered homeowners a lucrative opportunity to earn from their properties. However, as the sector grows, so does the attention from regulatory bodies, leading to the introduction of laws and regulations to manage the industry's expansion. Understanding these legal frameworks is crucial for property owners to operate successfully and legally.
There is no national short-term rental association in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, short-term rental is described as the rental of residential dwelling units, usually apartments, and rooms, for short-term periods through platforms such as Booking, Airbnb, Expedia, and Facebook
Short-term rentals are often referred to as Tourist Accommodation in Bulgaria.
There is no maximum stay in Bulgaria, as hosts can rent out their space as often as possible in a year.
Tourist accommodation owners must register their apartments under the Tourism Act just like hotels and guest houses. However, some regulations that affect regular rentals also affect short-term rentals, such as building and housing standards, zoning, health and safety standards, etc.
STR owners may be required to pay the following taxes depending on their classification, annual income, and use, i.e., if the entire house is used or it is just a room. The taxes are;
NOTE: You are required to download a 61R form from the National Revenue Agency, where you will fill in all your income for the year, enabling NRA to confirm the amount paid on taxes for each month and the amount declared for the entire year.
You are required to obtain a permit from OP Tourism before you can legally sublet your accommodation. The documents required for the permit include an ID card, property ownership document, and an application fee of 20 Leva. Temporary certificates are usually issued after 14 days of application to enable hosts to carry out their business without delay. Thereafter an on-site inspection occurs, and a permanent certificate which you are required to post in a visible place on your accommodation, is eventually issued if the accommodation is considered safe.
You are also required to create an account on the OP Tourism website and enter the details of the guests you accommodate each month on the 15th day of the corresponding month. This process will enable you to generate the actual tourist tax that you are required to pay for the month into your NRA account and also enable the authority to have a register of the guests you have accommodated by their countries. You are also required to keep a register or a written record of the guests that you accommodate, which aligns with the details submitted online. You may also be required to register your guests with the police department a few days after arrival, although the law regarding registration with the police is not rigid.
You can contact the IT department of OP Tourism regarding details on how to create your account at +359 2 9890802
You are required to register your accommodation with the municipality within working hours to comply with the requirements of OP tourism if you use a cash register for your rental. You may also be required to apply for a change of purpose for your apartment depending on your municipality.
There is no national short-term rental association in Bulgaria
Lodge compliance is not a licensed tax or financial advisor. Therefore nothing in the above article should be construed as tax, legal, or financial advice. Contact your local tax office for information regarding your personal circumstance.
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