21:12 7 August 2026
President of Sopot: Without Airbnb city will divide into tourist ghettos
Poland’s Ministry of Sports and Tourism is considering giving municipalities greater powers to regulate short-term rentals, including Airbnb-style properties. Options include creating restricted zones, introducing licensing systems and setting occupancy limits based on apartment size to prevent overcrowded “pseudo-hostels.” Sopot Mayor Magdalena Czarzyńska-Jachim argues that licensing would be more practical than zoning, especially in smaller cities. She also supports a central register of short-term rentals and tougher enforcement, including removing properties after repeated justified police interventions. Municipalities want flexibility to tailor rules to local conditions, potentially limiting short-term rentals to a percentage of housing stock.
Officials argue that stronger regulation could also help return more apartments to the long-term rental market.
