He Parliament Since the beginning of the year, a bill that seeks to regulate the rental of housing for tourist purposes in Uruguay, an initiative that raises doubts from the Latin American Internet Association (ALAI)among other organizations.
For the ALAI, the tourist rental or temporary – a modality that has expanded throughout the world, to the point that in many first world countries they begin to regulate its operation through specific laws – cannot be analyzed as the activity of the real estate already established.
This was one of the issues raised by the agency’s delegation to the Senate Industry Committeewhich deals with the draft regulation for this type of accommodation in Uruguay.
Represented by its executive director, Raúl Echeberría, The ALAI brought to the premises the proposal that the tenants of housing for tourist use who offer temporary rentals through internet platforms They are not hotels nor are they real estate companies. For this reason, a conflict is generated between reality and regulation when seeking to implement regulatory frameworks for this type of activity.
As explained Echeberria, this type of rental made the sector grow and “attracts a greater formalization of this economic activity because participation through formal systems and platforms requires payments, credit card purchases, registration and transactions “that leave their clues.”
Likewise, he pointed out that this formalization of the sector through internet platforms generates extra income in mostly middle-class homes: “I don’t want to lie, but approximately half of the tenants of housing in this modality are women, considered heads of household,” he said.
The difference with tourist real estate
The representative of the platforms particularly pointed out against the second article of the bill, which states that any person who manages more than one property under the modality of temporary rentals must register as tourist real estate. For the ALAI, this consideration is excessive, since there are those who also temporarily rent the property in which they live.
He seventh article He also received criticism from Echeberría. This indicates that the owner must assume the responsibilities towards the guest established by the rules relating to the hotel activity.
In this regard, the general director of the ALAI maintained that “it is not the same; Hotels organize events, offer gastronomic services, restaurants, and laundry. In addition, they often receive investment incentives; It is a different activity, neither better nor worse, they are different activities that complement each other”.
The same article indicates that it will be necessary to request the change of use of the home from residential to tourist. This modification must be made in the corresponding departmental administration. “I can’t imagine many people doing a procedure in the mayor’s office asking for a change in the type of use of the classification of a property, without clearly understanding what the consequences may be,” said Echeberría.
“They may only be a procedure to be able to rent the house or eventually other consequences from the point of view.” tax or different restrictions and obligations,” he added.
Source: Ambito
