In recent years, more and more property owners have chosen to generate income from their properties through short-term rentals. Turning an apartment into a holiday home can be a great opportunity: it allows you to enhance the value of a second home, make use of a property that is rarely used, and generate additional income in a flexible way.
Before you start welcoming guests, however, there are a few administrative steps to take. For those approaching the world of tourist rentals for the first time, these aspects can seem complicated: public portals, bureaucratic acronyms, and online procedures are not always easy to understand.
The good news is that, with the right information, opening a holiday home in Italy is actually a fairly simple and well-structured process. In this guide we will look at the main steps, the documents required, and how the procedure works to start your activity legally and smoothly.
Check that the property meets the requirements
The first step is to verify that the property can be used as a holiday home.
In general, the apartment must be properly registered in the land registry, equipped with compliant systems, and meet the minimum safety and habitability requirements established by law. In most cases, these are characteristics already present in a standard residential apartment.
It is important to know that the regulations for tourist rentals are not identical throughout Italy. The sector is regulated both at national and regional levels, which means that some requirements may vary slightly from one region to another. For example, certain mandatory amenities or specific safety devices may differ.
For this reason, it is always advisable to check the regulations applicable in your region before starting the activity.
Prepare the necessary documents
Once the suitability of the property has been verified, the next step is to gather the documentation needed to start the administrative procedure.
Among the most commonly required documents are the cadastral floor plan, which shows the layout of the apartment, and the cadastral certificate, which contains the property’s identification details.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is also often required. This document certifies the energy class of the property.
Depending on the situation, additional technical documents may also be needed, such as system certifications or declarations of urban planning compliance. Having all the documentation ready from the beginning allows you to complete the application correctly and avoid delays in the process.
The SUAP application and SCIA: what they really mean
One of the steps that often creates the most confusion among property owners is the so-called SUAP procedure.
SUAP stands for Sportello Unico per le Attività Produttive (Single Desk for Productive Activities), which is the municipal office responsible for managing administrative procedures related to economic activities, including tourist accommodations.
To open a holiday home, it is necessary to submit a SCIA (Segnalazione Certificata di Inizio Attività – Certified Notification of Commencement of Activity). This is an official communication through which the owner informs the municipality about the start of the activity and declares that all the legal requirements are met.
In most cases, this application is submitted online through the Impresainungiorno portal, a national platform that allows digital submission of requests to the relevant municipality. However, some municipalities use their own online portals or dedicated regional platforms through which the documentation must be submitted.
The property identification code
Once the opening procedure is completed, the holiday home receives an official identification code.
In all regions, a CIR (Regional Identification Code) is assigned, which identifies the accommodation within the regional tourism system.
In recent years, a CIN (National Identification Code) has also been introduced. This code is valid throughout Italy and uniquely identifies every tourist accommodation. After obtaining the regional code, it is possible to request the CIN through the Ministry of Tourism portal via a relatively simple online procedure.
This code must be displayed in online listings, for example on major booking platforms. The aim is to ensure greater transparency in the short-term rental market and facilitate possible checks by authorities.
Mandatory communications
Once the activity has started, the holiday home manager must comply with several mandatory communications regarding guests.
For example, guest data must be transmitted to the Italian State Police through the Alloggiati Web portal within 24 hours of arrival. This is the same system used by hotels and other accommodation facilities.
In addition, tourist presence data must be periodically reported through the regional statistical portal used for ISTAT surveys.
Finally, in municipalities where it is required, the tourist tax must also be managed. This tax must be collected from guests and subsequently paid to the municipality according to the procedures established by the local administration.
Publish the property and start welcoming guests
Once all the administrative steps have been completed, the holiday home is finally ready to be listed on the main booking platforms, such as Airbnb or Booking.com.
Today these platforms require the mandatory inclusion of the accommodation’s identification codes (such as CIR and CIN), which are displayed in listings to ensure greater transparency and security for guests.
At this point, the operational phase of management begins: creating the listing, managing reservations, welcoming guests, handling cleaning services, and taking care of all the activities that contribute to offering a pleasant and well-organized stay.
Quokka’s support
Opening a vacation home is not an impossible process, but it does require attention, time, and a good understanding of the steps involved. Between technical documents, administrative procedures, online portals, and regional regulations, the real challenge is often not just understanding what needs to be done, but successfully communicating with the various authorities, obtaining clear answers, and following up on applications when necessary. It is quite common for property owners to spend a lot of time on phone calls, emails, and waiting periods without knowing exactly who to contact or how to move a situation forward.
For many owners, especially those approaching the short-term rental market for the first time, having expert support can make a real difference.
At Quokka, we support property owners not only in managing short-term rentals but also during the initial phase of opening the property. We take care of preparing the necessary documentation, submitting the SUAP application, and setting up the required online portals. We also handle communications with the relevant authorities and take care of follow-ups when needed, so that you don’t have to spend time dealing with bureaucracy and complex procedures. This way, starting your vacation rental becomes simpler, faster, and stress-free, allowing you to welcome guests with the peace of mind that everything is fully compliant.
