Dorita Yiannakou
The rapid growth of short-term rental accommodations continues to challenge the authorities, which are working to strengthen oversight of the sector through inspections, complaints, and new legislation. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism is introducing a stricter operating framework while also preparing to implement the new European regulation. The goal is to create a complete registry of accommodations and improve oversight of the market.
There are currently 8,606 registered self-catering accommodations in the Deputy Ministry of Tourism's Registry, representing 36,540 beds, with the Paphos district accounting for the largest share.
New registrations in the Deputy Ministry's registry declined during the first half of the year. According to official data, 1,048 accommodations were registered during the first six months, compared with 1,299 during the same period in 2025, a 19% drop in new registrations.
At the same time, inspections continue as authorities work to stop the illegal operation of short-term rental properties. So far, inspectors from the Deputy Ministry have filed 103 complaints involving unregistered accommodations.
The next steps
The Deputy Ministry of Tourism maintains the Registry of Self-Catering Accommodations under the current law governing the establishment and operation of hotels and tourist accommodations. At the same time, it is preparing new legislation to regulate short-term rental accommodations.
The proposed legal framework will introduce minimum operating requirements covering safety, health, and basic quality standards, with the goal of improving the services offered. According to information obtained by K, the bill is still in its preliminary stages and, once completed, will be released for public consultation in October.
Another priority is implementing European Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, which establishes a registration system for short-term rental accommodations and requires each property to receive a unique registration number. Under the regulation, online platforms will have to verify and display that number in every listing, preventing unregistered accommodations from being offered for rent. The Deputy Ministry expects the new European framework to improve transparency and strengthen oversight of the short-term rental market. Among its objectives are harmonizing registration requirements for hosts and properties offered for short-term rentals, clarifying the rules governing the display and verification of registration numbers, and improving the exchange of statistical information and data between online platforms and public authorities.
More specifically, the regulation creates a common framework to prevent illegal listings on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking, collect and share data, establish uniform rules for hosts and platforms, ensure the proper display and use of registration numbers, improve the exchange of statistical information with public authorities, and impose penalties when violations are found. The deadline for all EU member states to fully implement the regulation was May 20, 2026. Even though the regulation is now in force, recent inspections by the Audit Office and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism show that a significant number of accommodations still fail to comply with the rules or continue operating illegally, including owners using false registration numbers or listing properties without any license.
What applies today
The current legal framework for self-catering accommodations is based on the 2019 Law Regulating the Establishment and Operation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations. According to the Audit Office, Article 16A of the law states that a self-catering accommodation may not be rented or leased unless it is registered in the Registry of Self-Catering Accommodations maintained by the Deputy Ministry. A property may also be rented or leased only if its registration license remains valid, has been renewed, and the property meets the legal characteristics and specifications of a detached residence, an individual furnished tourist villa, or an individual apartment, as defined by the law.
The documents required by the Deputy Ministry for registration include a building permit and/or planning permit, a recent Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) bill, and the owner's identification details or, in the case of a legal entity, a certificate of incorporation.
