The government’s much-publicized promise to end the chaos in Poland’s short-term rental market has turned out to be little more than a public relations exercise. Instead of providing real protection for residents and giving local governments the authority to establish “anti-party hotel” zones, the Cabinet adopted legislation shaped by the demands of Airbnb’s Berlin office. How did the concerns of a foreign industry giant become more important than the voices of Polish municipalities and city residents?
“We are putting an end to the chaos in the short-term rental market. The Council of Ministers has adopted a bill introducing clear rules for rentals. A central register will be created, and local governments will gain tools to respond where short-term rentals make life difficult for residents. The bill will now be considered by the Sejm. We are bringing order to the market and restoring the balance between property rights and residents’ right to peaceful living!” wrote Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz of the Polish People’s Party (PSL) on X.
Internet users reacted immediately. They added a community note to his post, pointing out that “the bill only introduces the registration of hotel establishments located in residential buildings” and “provides no tools whatsoever for residents or local governments to combat so-called ‘party hotels.'”
Government Dispute and Foreign Lobbying
Following these claims led to a striking conclusion. The final version of the bill appears to be the result of successful lobbying by foreign interests. It also exposed a dispute between the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism.
Interministerial consultations and the public review process took place between December 23, 2025, and January 13, 2026. The process was far from smooth. The Minister of Sport and Tourism rejected several comments submitted by the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, resulting in a formal record of disagreements.
The ministry headed by Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz argued that the legislation should enter into force without unnecessary delay, granting municipal councils their new powers immediately and allowing them to decide independently when to establish short-term rental restriction zones. According to the ministry, the mandatory three-year implementation period proposed by the Ministry of Sport was “disproportionate and weakens the intended impact of the legislation.”
The Ministry of Funds also proposed allowing housing associations and housing cooperatives to approve short-term rentals in the buildings they manage. Once again, the Ministry of Sport opposed the proposal, arguing that such a solution “interferes with property rights guaranteed under Article 31(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.”
The Ministry of Sport, led by Jakub Rutnicki of the Civic Coalition (KO), ultimately prevailed. It rejected the Ministry of Funds’ comments, while objections raised by Poland’s Personal Data Protection Office were also ignored. Lobbyists emerged as winners as well.
As part of the public consultation process, the draft bill was sent on December 23, 2025, to 79 entities representing the tourism sector, which were given 30 days to submit their opinions.
Among the organizations whose comments were taken into account was one of the world’s largest short-term rental platforms – Airbnb Germany GmbH, the official German branch of Airbnb headquartered in Berlin.
In comments published on government websites, Airbnb Germany GmbH called for maintaining a two-year transition period before the new regulations take effect. The German company also demanded the removal of provisions allowing municipal councils to establish “restriction zones” in which the operation of “other hotel establishments” could be prohibited.
Regulations Disappear
What happened next? A crucial provision disappeared from the final version of the bill.
An amendment submitted on July 7 by Minister of Sport and Tourism Jakub Rutnicki removed provisions that would have allowed municipal councils to establish short-term rental prohibition zones. In effect, the German company’s request was granted.
Rutnicki’s amendment deleted Article 44b, which had previously appeared in the draft legislation. The removed provision stated:
“At the request of the mayor (or city mayor), the municipal council may, by resolution, designate an area in which the operation of other establishments providing hotel services is prohibited, taking into account, in particular, the historic character of the building, as well as public order and public safety.”
The deleted provision further stipulated that such a zone could cover a designated part of a municipality where hotel services would be temporarily prohibited. The restriction could have been introduced either indefinitely or for a specified period.
What exactly did Airbnb Germany GmbH request in its official comments submitted during the consultation process? The company’s letter to the government stated:
“Proposed Article 44b constitutes a measure that seriously undermines the freedom to provide services, the freedom to conduct business, and the protection of private property, particularly as it would be introduced through local legislation. Consequently, it should be removed from the draft bill.”
During the Council of Ministers meeting, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz formally expressed a dissenting opinion regarding the final shape of the legislation following the amendment introduced by the Minister of Sport. No other minister supported her position.
“The legislation gives local governments absolutely no authority to establish Airbnb-free zones. That is why I submitted a formal dissenting opinion on this bill. I was the only one. This is the essence of surrendering to lobbyists while completely ignoring the needs of ordinary people. It is the exact opposite of what we should be doing today if we want to win next year’s elections,” the Minister of Funds wrote on X.