Short-term rentals are furnished accommodations such as a room in a residential apartment to entire apartments, villas, cottages, etc., that travelers can rent on a short-term basis for money. The accommodation can be managed by property management companies or the owner of the residential apartment, which could be a tenant or the landlord. They are usually available for booking on online platforms and are popularly referred to as holiday homes, Airbnb, transient rentals, etc.

In Poland, tenants can legally operate short-term rentals in their apartments, but landlord permission is essential. The lease agreement often governs whether tenants can sublet their property, and most standard leases prohibit subletting (which includes listing the property on platforms like Airbnb) without the landlord's explicit approval. Operating a short-term rental without the landlord's consent may result in eviction or legal consequences, as it would violate the terms of the lease.

If the property is part of a homeowner's association (HOA) or a condominium, tenants may also need approval from the association, as many HOAs impose their own restrictions on short-term rentals.

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There is no specific duration for Airbnb in Poland, but it usually ranges from a few days to several weeks.

In Poland, there is no one law governing short-term rentals; rather, city councils have different rental regulations. Local governments may impose restrictions on Airbnb rentals, such as registration and tax obligations. Although the maximum tax rates and registration thresholds in Poland may be decided by the Council of Ministers. What is applicable is still agreed upon by local authorities.

In Krakow, you are required to register your short-term rental accommodation for free as a facility providing a hotel service that is not a hotel facility and camping site before your rental activity can be considered legal. You are also required to pay the tourist tax that applies to the city.

These rules vary from place to place, therefore, it is advisable to find out the regulations that are in effect where your property is located and check with your local government. Alternatively, subscribe to the Lodge Compliance to easily access all the pertinent information related to your properties.

In Poland, there is no national requirement for hosts to register their short-term rental properties with a national department or in a central government database. However, local regulations may impose requirements for registration or permits, depending on the city or region where the rental property is located.

For instance, in cities like Kraków, hosts are required to register their properties as facilities providing accommodation services. This process is handled by local authorities. In Gdańsk, hosts need to register with the city for free and also ensure their property complies with local health, safety, and taxation regulations.

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There is no national short-term rental association in Poland at the time of compilation of this information, but you may consider joining the European Holiday Home Association on LinkedIn.