Regulations on noise and tourist housing

This post on regulations on noise in tourist housing will try to understand what is the main source of noise in vacation rental accommodations and what are the resources that neighbors and hosts have at their disposal to limit it. We will conclude with the competent bodies regarding noise legislation.

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Vacation rentals as a source of noise

Undoubtedly, noise is one of the main problems of coexistence faced by vacation rental hosts in their businesses. In fact, avoiding parties in your accommodation is critical to maintaining a good relationship with the neighborhood community.

Not only municipalities, through regulations on noise in tourist housing, but also the OTA par excellence, Airbnb, states thatnoise control in their accommodations is an important part of its code forbeing a responsible host

Guests book accommodations through Airbnb for many reasons, including going on vacation or traveling for a celebration. To make it a pleasant experience for everyone, explain to them in advance that noise can disturb your neighbors.Being a responsible host onAirbnb

If you are concerned that during their stay they may disturb them, you can prevent them from making excessive noise by being explicit in the house rules. Explain them in the welcome book.

In addition, if you allow pets in your tourist apartment, you must convey that the owners are responsible for their pets.

Who is responsible for the noise in a vacation rental according to the regulations?

The first measure that neighbors will take to reduce this problem, following the regulations on noise in tourist housing, will be to transfer the complaint to the host. As a host, you must be diligent in processing these claims. Your goal is to be quick to address these issues. Remember that the next steps that neighbors will take will be to notify the administrator or owner of the community. And this fact, on an ongoing basis, will put the neighbors against your business.

If the noise in your vacation rental persists, it is possible that the local police will intervene. They will take acoustic measurements at that time and may file a complaint...

But, who is responsible for the noise in tourist accommodation according to the legislation?

The Law 37/2003 is clear: the person responsible for non-compliance with acoustic regulations is the subject causing the action, that is, the guests who occupy your tourist accommodation at that time. Vacation rental hosts are not responsible for the noise caused by their guests.

It's common sense: the moral responsibility of hosts to be vigilant about the noise caused by their commercial activity.

Applicable legislation on noise in tourist dwellings

Most of the regulations on noise in tourist housing are under local jurisdiction. City councils are the competent authorities to regulate acceptable noise thresholds. It should be noted that the legislation differentiates between vacation rental housing and tourist use. While with the former (the classic blocks of tourist apartments), cessation of activity is complicated, in the latter (the typical Airbnb in a residential block), it is simpler.

Tourism Administration

The regulations on tourist housing –not just noise– require in some autonomous communities obtaining a title/registration that enables the start of commercial activity (tourist use) Some tourism regulations require tourist housing to obtain an enabling title to start the activity.

If the complaints from neighbors are prolonged over time, the legislation on noise in tourist accommodations contemplates that the competent authority (City Council or Autonomous Community) can investigate your vacation accommodation and cease the activity provisionally or fine you economically.

Beyond legislation. Resources to avoid the noise of guests in tourist accommodations

Below we leave you some ways to avoid the noise of your guests, beyond the legislation on tourist housing.

• Establish a quiet hours policy.
• Do not allow the presence of pets.
• Indicate that your accommodation is not suitable for children or infants.
• Prohibit parties and additional unregistered guests.

In addition, a good host of tourist accommodations –beyond what the noise regulations say– must be diligent in controlling it. You can use noise sensors for this.

For example, the Raixer smart lock has an integrated noise sensor that allows monitoring the noise in your home and records the activity in the app.

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