Your First Inspection After CWTON Registration: What an Inspector Looks For

Your first inspection after CWTON registration: what an inspector looks for once your entry is active

CWTON registration lifted the biggest burden off hosts in spring 2026, but an active number in the system doesn't mean the end of contact with inspecting authorities. A post-registration inspection looks different from verifying the mere fact of registration, an inspector checks whether the property's actual condition and its documentation match what was declared at registration.

Key takeaways

• A post-registration inspection checks whether the property's actual state matches the data submitted to CWTON, not just whether a number exists
• Fire safety documentation and the guest register are the most commonly checked items, regardless of whether the property already has an active registration
• A mismatch between the number of sleeping places registered in CWTON and what's actually offered on booking platforms is one of the most commonly detected issues
• Several different authorities (Labour Inspectorate, fire brigade, sanitary inspection, municipal office) can carry out inspections, each checking a different scope of requirements

Who can inspect a property after CWTON registration

A CWTON entry isn't the only point of contact with state institutions. Depending on the property and any reported irregularities, inspections can be carried out by different bodies, each within their own area of competence:

• Fire brigade: verifies compliance with fire safety requirements, the fire safety instruction, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, marked escape routes
• Sanitary inspection: checks the property's sanitary conditions, including the state of the water and sewage installation and cleanliness of rooms
• Labour Inspectorate: if the host employs staff (e.g. a cleaner), can check that contracts and working conditions comply with regulations
• Municipal office: verifies compliance of the rental with local regulations, including collecting and remitting the local tax, where applicable

CWTON data matching reality

A core element of post-registration inspections is comparing the data submitted in the CWTON application with the property's actual state on the day of the inspector's visit. Typical mismatches found during such inspections:

• More sleeping places offered on booking platforms than declared in CWTON
• An address or property description that doesn't match its actual state (e.g. after informally splitting an apartment into two separately rented sections)
• A failure to update data after changes that should formally have been reported

Documentation worth having ready for an inspection

1. A printout or on-screen view of the active CWTON entry with the registration number
2. A fire safety instruction appropriate to the property's size
3. A guest register from the most recent period, containing the required details of people making reservations
4. The house rules in the version shared with guests
5. Documentation confirming collection and remittance of the local tax, where it applies in the given municipality

What happens when a mismatch is found

Depending on the nature and severity of the mismatch found, consequences can range from a demand to update CWTON data immediately, to a financial penalty, and for serious safety violations, a temporary suspension of the ability to run the rental until the irregularities are resolved. Minor administrative discrepancies (e.g. an outdated contact phone number) usually just result in a recommendation to update within a set timeframe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is a post-CWTON-registration inspection announced in advance?

It depends on the authority carrying out the inspection and the nature of the case, some inspections, especially those responding to a specific complaint (e.g. from a neighbour), can happen unannounced, while scheduled inspections are sometimes notified in advance.

Does an active CWTON number protect against any inspection?

No, active registration is a precondition for legally running the rental, but it doesn't waive the obligation to meet other requirements (safety, sanitary, tax-related), which are subject to separate inspections regardless of CWTON status.

What if an inspector finds more sleeping places than what was declared in CWTON?

That kind of mismatch usually results in a demand to update the registration data immediately, and depending on the scale and circumstances, may involve additional financial consequences for running the business out of line with the registration up to that point.

Is it worth proactively reporting a mismatch I find myself, before an inspector does?

Yes, proactively updating your data before an inspection usually goes over better than the same mismatch being discovered by an inspector during a visit, it shows the host's due diligence in maintaining regulatory compliance.