What Legal Notice 92 Means for Your Short Let in 2026

Legal Notice 92 of 2026 is the piece of Maltese regulation that reshaped how short lets are required to operate, and any host running one should know what it actually asks for before assuming their listing already complies.

What the notice actually requires

The regulation centres on an MTA licence for every short-let property and a requirement for a genuine 24/7 local contact point, someone reachable who can respond to a guest issue at any hour, not necessarily the host in person. It is not a set of cleaning or hygiene standards, it is a licensing and contactability requirement.

Where a cleaning service fits and where it does not

A turnover service handles what happens inside the flat between guests. It is not the same thing as the 24/7 local contact the law requires, and a host should not assume booking a cleaner satisfies that obligation. AutomateBnB is run from outside Malta and does not provide the 24/7 local contact function itself, though it does connect to your calendar so every checkout still gets a photographed clean regardless of who handles the licensing side.

Why this is not legal advice

Regulation around short lets changes, and the exact requirements of Legal Notice 92 are a legal and licensing matter for the Malta Tourism Authority, not something a cleaning service is positioned to interpret for you. Check the current requirements with the MTA or a licensed adviser before relying on any summary, including this one. See the eco contribution rules for the other Malta-specific obligation that catches new hosts off guard.

Conclusion

Legal Notice 92 is a licensing and contactability rule, separate from the cleaning that happens between guests. See how turnovers fit into running a compliant short let alongside your own licensing arrangements.