Tourists renting apartments in Italy through platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com will no longer be able to check in independently. Under new regulations, property owners are now required to personally greet guests, verify their identities, and complete the registration process. Within 24 hours of check-in, they must also send guests’ personal information and copies of their identification documents to the police.
As reported by Euronews Travel, the Italian government introduced this ban on key lock boxes—a common self-check-in solution—following widespread protests by local residents. In major cities such as Rome, Florence, and Milan, frustration over the proliferation of these lock boxes has even led to incidents of locals removing them from building entrances.
The regulation officially took effect on November 18, 2024, but authorities have only recently begun notifying rental platforms and property owners about its enforcement. The move is part of broader efforts to address concerns over the impact of short-term rentals on local communities, including housing availability and neighborhood dynamics.
This change highlights the growing tensions between Italy’s booming short-term rental market and the residents of cities that have become tourist hotspots. While the new rules aim to improve oversight and accountability, they may also pose challenges for rental hosts accustomed to using key lock boxes to manage bookings remotely.
