Committee proposes 90-day limit on short-term home rentals

Finland’s parliamentary Environment Committee has proposed allowing owner-occupied homes to be rented short-term for up to 90 days a year without a separate permit, Yle reports.

The committee issued its report on a government bill to amend the Construction Act on Thursday. Under its proposal, if a home is rented for more than 90 days, the building control authority would assess on a case-by-case basis whether the activity requires a permit. Municipalities could use their discretion to raise the limit to 180 days, committee counsellor Susanna Paakkola said.

The committee said clearer rules are needed because it is currently unclear whether short-term rentals count as accommodation activity and therefore require a permit. Its report also includes a dissent by representatives of the Social Democratic Party, Centre Party, Greens and Left Alliance.

The committee also proposed developing oversight, including a registration requirement for short-term rental operators. It said registration could enable information to be transferred automatically to municipalities, improving the effectiveness and fairness of enforcement. A motion in the report calls on the government to prepare the requirement so it would be in force by the end of 2027.

The bill will next go to Parliament’s plenary session, which will consider it on the basis of the committee’s report.