The Ministry of Economic Affairs wants clearer rules for short‑term apartment and house rentals in Estonia to bring more order to the market and ensure fairer competition.
Short‑term rentals through platforms such as Airbnb or Booking have grown rapidly in recent years, and the share of guest apartments in the accommodation market is becoming increasingly significant. Entering the market is easy — all it takes is an empty apartment — but it is not legally clear when this should be considered an economic service and what requirements must be followed.
Another question is how to ensure equal treatment and fair competition among market participants without imposing excessive restrictions. The current Estonian Tourism Act does not separately define short‑term rentals.
Minister of Economic Affairs Erkki Keldo told that businesses have long raised concerns that professional accommodation providers such as hotels must comply with many state rules, while short‑term rental operators have no obligations at all. For that reason, the ministry launched a plan to amend the Tourism Act specifically to bring more order to the short‑term rental market.
“The market needs transparent and fair competition,” Keldo said.
Read more: ERR.EE
