Short rentals, Viminale bans self check-in: security risk, identification of guests must be done in person

In this way, the objective of the law, which also requires managers of tourist facilities for short-term rentals to transmit guest data to the Police Headquarters in order to prevent 'prejudiced, suspected or wanted persons' from hiding in accommodation establishments, is not guaranteed. With remote check-in, in fact, it cannot be ruled out that, the Viminale points out, 'after the documents have been sent electronically, the facility may be occupied by one or more persons whose personal details remain unknown to the competent Police Headquarters, entailing a potential danger to the safety of the community'. The only legitimate identification is, therefore, that made in person.

The same applies to home exchange. The circular, which also explicitly refers to HomeExchange, specifies that the particulars of the person taking over the exchanged accommodation must also be communicated to the Questura in the physical manner, and concludes with a recommendation to the prefects to illustrate the new orientation to the provincial committee for order and security and to instruct the questura to carry out checks.

The Viminale's indications will also translate into specific monitoring of the procedures adopted for checking in at accommodation facilities intended for short-term rentals: the circular concludes with a recommendation to the prefects to illustrate the new orientation to the provincial committee for order and security and to instruct the questura to carry out the checks. For Minister Piantedosi, the keybox model is a "model to be overcome", he said at the end of a meeting in the Venice Prefecture's headquarters. 'To be overcome,' he added, 'because it is also very critical in terms of compliance with the regulations that require effective recognition of the person who then accesses the hotel service'.

The managers of tourist facilities for short rentals must transmit to the Police Headquarters, within six hours after arrival, in the case of stays not exceeding 24 hours, or within 24 hours after arrival, for longer stays, the data of the guests in order to prevent 'prejudiced, suspected or wanted persons' from hiding in the accommodation facilities. "As Aigab (Italian Association of Short-Term Rental Managers)," says president Marco Celani, "we believe that lockers on the streets should be eliminated and we welcome any control against forms of abusive behaviour detrimental to the entire category. We believe, however, that the Ministry of the Interior is unaware that the software used by many professional managers uses guest recognition technologies with biometric tracking and OTP codes that are entirely analogous to spid, car rental access and bank accounts. Not believing that the government wants to put an end to the sharing economy in Italy, introducing physical recognition only for short rentals would be discriminatory'.