CIN’s Crackdown on Short-Term Rentals

 

Florence’s short-term rental market has undergone transformations aimed at increasing safety and ensuring all properties listed on Airbnb are legitimate as of January 1, 2025. The introduction of the Codice Identificativo Nazionale (CIN), a national identification code for rental properties, is changing the outlook for tourist accommodations by eliminating non-compliant listings and enforcing stricter safety and tax requirements. 

According to the Confcommercio shop owners association, 20% of short-term rentals in Florence have suddenly vanished as they were deemed unsuitable or not up to standard, many of which were offices and warehouses disguised as tourist accommodations. The new CIN regulations require property owners to register with the Ministry of Tourism, and platforms like Airbnb will delist properties that fail to display a valid CIN. To further enhance transparency, the code must also be visibly placed outside rental properties, with design specifications tailored to preserve the city’s historical and artistic integrity. 

The Ministry of Tourism’s database, however, which has issued 17,500 Cin codes in the Florence province, does not differentiate between properties actively renting or those which have been registered by landlords who wish to do so in the future, also in in view of the upcoming restrictions. 

The transformations to the market extend beyond the registration of properties, as key-boxes for self check-in have been banned, with authorities given the power to physically remove them if not voluntarily taken down. Starting February 21, 2025, property owners will also be faced with a €400 fine for not complying. Guest registration must now be completed in person and ID must be taken by the host. In addition, new safety requirements mandate the installation of fire extinguishers, gas detectors, and carbon monoxide alarms in all short-term rental units. Violations of these safety measures will result in fines and potential bans on renting. 

Tax laws related to short-term rentals have also been tightened this year. Hosts without a VAT number will face a 21% withholding tax on their rental earnings, which will be directly deducted by platforms like Airbnb. Additionally, municipalities will be required to report non-compliant rentals to the Agenzia delle Entrate (Income Revenue Agency), with fines and enforcement actions following. Local government administration will benefit financially from these fines, as the recipient of much of the revenue from future penalties.

Under Italian law, short-term leases (under 30 days) do not require formal contract registration, but properties must be legally designated as residential and conform to those legal standards . Longer leases require formal registration with the (Agenzia delle Entrate) Inland Revenue Agency. 

Florence has already taken additional measures to stop excessive short-term rentals, banning new Airbnb listings in the historic city centre since July 30, 2024. The introduction of the CIN has reportedly led to the disappearance of 30% of rentals, as many owners opted to exit the market rather than comply with the new regulations. Some landlords shifted to long-term rentals, while others were forced out due to non-habitable property classifications. 

While the number of short-term rentals may not drastically decrease, it is predicted that lower-quality or illegal offerings will be replaced by more professional and compliant properties. (Mina Lozanova)