Your First Inspection After CWTON: What Inspectors Look For

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

Important upfront: in spring 2026 no one had yet registered with CWTON, because the system had not launched and the implementing act (UC135) remains a draft. EU Regulation 2024/1028 applies from 20 May 2026, but the register itself and the host-registration procedure still don't exist - a realistic start is sometimes put at the second half of 2026, with host registration possibly not until 2027. Inspections checking compliance with CWTON data will only begin once the register is up and running. This article therefore describes how such an inspection will likely look and how to prepare today - not a procedure that operates now.

Key takeaways

• The CWTON register isn't operational yet - inspections checking compliance with register data will only begin once it launches
• A post-registration inspection will check whether the property's actual state matches the data submitted to CWTON, not just whether a number exists
• Fire safety documentation (including smoke detectors, mandatory from 30 June 2026) is worth keeping in order regardless of CWTON
• A mismatch between the number of sleeping places registered in CWTON and what's actually offered on booking platforms will be one of the easiest issues to detect
• Several different authorities (Labour Inspectorate, fire brigade, sanitary inspection, municipal office) carry out inspections, each within its own scope and independently of CWTON status

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 - smoke detectors (mandatory in existing STR units from 30 June 2026), a CO detector where fuel is burned, a fire extinguisher, and clear, marked escape routes. A formal fire safety instruction (IBP) applies to specific larger-capacity buildings, not an ordinary rental apartment
• 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

Once the register is running, a core element of post-registration inspections will be comparing the data submitted in the CWTON application with the property's actual state on the day of the inspector's visit. Typical mismatches to expect:

• 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 CWTON entry with the registration number (once the register is operational)
2. Proof of fire safety equipment: functioning smoke detectors (mandatory from 30 June 2026), a CO detector where fuel is burned, a fire extinguisher with a current inspection, an evacuation plan
3. The house rules in the version shared with guests
4. Documentation confirming collection and remittance of the local tax, where it applies in the given municipality

Note: there is no legal obligation today to keep a "guest register" or "guest book" in private short-term rentals. You may keep such a record as good practice (and against a possible future requirement from the draft act), but no one can penalise you today for its absence.

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. Eventually (once the act is passed and the register launches) active registration is meant to be a precondition for running the rental, but it still won't waive the obligation to meet other requirements (safety, sanitary, tax-related), which are subject to separate inspections regardless of CWTON status - including today, before the register even exists.

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.

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