Uzbekistan to create online registry for holiday homes to monitor rental prices

Uzbekistan is moving to bring the informal holiday home rental market under state oversight. According to a draft resolution recently released for public discussion by the Tax Committee, the government plans to conduct a comprehensive inventory of tourist dachas and establish a mechanism to monitor rental prices.

Photo: Olx.uz

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce the shadow economy within the tourism sector. Under the proposed regulations, a "tourist holiday home" is defined as any accommodation established on the basis of an individual residential house or plot, designed to provide temporary residence, meals, and leisure services for citizens.

A key component of the plan is the integration of these holiday homes into a single electronic database of all accommodation facilities operating in the tourism sector. This registry will not only list available properties but will also be updated continuously with information regarding service prices. The Committee on Tourism and the Tax Committee are expected to be tasked with completing a full inventory of all such properties by the end of 2026.

To streamline the process, authorities intend to utilize the Soliq mobile application. A system may be implemented to transmit data in real-time regarding electronic short-term rental agreements registered through the service. This digital approach aims to create a transparent competitive environment and provide an accurate account of all active accommodation providers.

Despite the move toward formalization, the government intends to keep the barrier to entry low for property owners. The draft resolution specifies that separate licenses or special permits will not be required to rent out a holiday home. Furthermore, these properties will be exempt from the standard tourist tax.

Enforcement of these new standards will be managed through the "mahallabay" system, which utilizes local neighborhood leadership to monitor commercial activity. The proposal also includes a whistleblower incentive: citizens who report unregistered or illegally operating rental properties will be eligible for a reward equivalent to 30% of the fine collected, with strict identity confidentiality guaranteed.

The ultimate goal of the document is to digitize the accounting of accommodation facilities and foster a fair market. The public discussion regarding these measures is scheduled to remain open until May 7.