Short-term rentals: What was the point of the government’s political fight?

Short-term rentals have become one of the Polish government’s most contentious issues in recent months. There has been a government bill, a parliamentary bill, disputes among coalition partners, accusations of yielding to lobbyists and repeated changes of direction. The debate has unfolded with a determination that, in the columnist’s view, is less visible in matters affecting a much larger share of society, including health-care reform.

An EU regulation, 2024/1028, requires Poland to create a system for collecting short-term rental data. The launch of a Central Register of Tourist Accommodation Facilities became an opportunity to regulate much more than the register itself. Yet the measures do not appear to follow one consistent philosophy.

The sharpest example concerns housing communities and cooperatives. Until recently, officials argued that allowing them to prohibit short-term rentals could raise constitutional concerns because it would interfere with property rights and the freedom to conduct business. On Sept. 2, that position changed abruptly, and the power became part of the government’s draft law. Changing course is possible, but the reason for the change deserves an explanation. The Constitution does not change with the day of the week.

The scale of the market also complicates the debate. In 2025, platforms such as Airbnb and Booking recorded 44.4 million overnight stays in Poland, mainly by domestic tourists. The case for restrictions has focused largely on guests disturbing residents, but the share of the market represented by such incidents remains unclear.

The proposed rules could reduce the number of apartments available for short stays, with some moving into the long-term rental market and possibly putting downward pressure on rents. They could also improve conditions for residents in buildings where short-term guests cause real disruption. At the same time, reduced supply and continued demand could push accommodation prices higher, making apartments more expensive for families that use them as a cheaper alternative to several hotel rooms. The column argues that authorities could have targeted the problem more precisely by enforcing responsibility for disturbances and identifying the people using the properties.