Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Sample Complaint Letter

The Legal Framework for Short-Term Letting

Renting homes for tourism purposes was brought under a permit regime by legislation that came into force in 2024. Lettings of one hundred days or less count as tourism lettings and require a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

In buildings under condominium ownership, a permit application must be supported by a unanimous resolution of all owners. In other words, every owner in the building must consent before a unit can be let on a short-term basis.

Administrative fines are prescribed for letting without a permit. The fine is imposed on the person carrying out the activity and increases on repetition.

Before Making a Complaint

• Check whether the management plan requires the unit to be used as a dwelling
• Log the constantly changing occupants and incidents with dates and times
• Take screenshots of the listing (address, price, listing number)
• List concrete incidents involving noise, security and use of common areas
• Take any witness statements in writing

The strength of a complaint comes from documented, continuing incidents. An application based on a single event rarely succeeds.

Copyable Complaint to the Management

……………………… APARTMENT / COMPLEX

TO THE MANAGEMENT

Subject: Short-term (tourism) letting of independent unit no. …….

I reside in independent unit no. …… of ……………………… Apartment/Complex.

Since …/…/20…, unit no. …… appears to have been let on a short-term basis, with constantly changing occupants. My observations are as follows:

…/…/20… — ……………………… (noise and large groups arriving late at night)
…/…/20… — ……………………… (the main entrance door left open)
…/…/20… — ……………………… (groups with luggage waiting in common areas and occupying the lift)

The unit is advertised on ……………………… (platform), and a screenshot is attached.

Renting homes for tourism purposes requires a permit, and in buildings under condominium ownership a permit application requires a unanimous resolution of all owners. No such resolution exists in our building.

This use also weakens building security and breaches the duty in Article 18 of the Condominium Law not to disturb others.

I therefore request:

1. That a written warning be issued to the owner of the unit concerned,

2. That the matter be placed on the general assembly agenda,

3. That a resolution be adopted to apply to the competent authorities if the activity continues.

I submit the above for your consideration. …/…/20…

Full Name: ………………………    Unit No: ……    Signature: ………

ANNEXES: 1) Listing screenshot 2) Incident log 3) Witness statements, if any

Copyable Complaint to the Authorities

TO THE ……………… DISTRICT GOVERNORATE / PROVINCIAL DIRECTORATE OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

Subject: Complaint concerning tourism letting of a dwelling carried on without a permit.

COMPLAINANT: Full Name, National ID No, ……………………… Apartment/Complex, Unit No, Address, Telephone

ADDRESS COMPLAINED OF: ……………………… Apartment/Complex, independent unit no. ……, ……………… Province/District

EXPLANATIONS:

1. I reside at the address above.

2. Unit no. …… in the same building has been let for tourism purposes on a daily and short-term basis since …/…/20…. It is advertised on ……………………… (platform), and a screenshot is attached.

3. Renting homes for tourism purposes requires a permit. In buildings under condominium ownership, a permit application requires a unanimous resolution of all owners. No such resolution has been adopted in our building.

4. The activity has created a security weakness in the building and residents are disturbed by the constantly changing occupants. The incidents I have identified are set out with dates and times in the annex.

MY REQUEST: I request that it be inspected whether the tourism letting activity carried on in the unit concerned holds a permit, that the necessary action be taken under the applicable legislation if it does not, and that I be informed of the outcome. …/…/20…

Full Name: ………………………    Signature: ………

ANNEXES: 1) Listing screenshot 2) Incident log 3) Copy of identity document

Filling Guide

Take the listing screenshot with the date visible and note the listing number. If the listing is removed, that screenshot becomes the only evidence.

Date each incident individually. A statement such as "strangers keep arriving" will not on its own trigger action.

In an administrative application, give your identity and contact details in full; anonymous applications may not be processed.

After the Application

The management issues a written warning first and, if that fails, the matter is discussed at the general assembly. The assembly may resolve to apply to the authorities and, if necessary, judicial intervention can be sought from the Civil Court of Peace.

Administrative applications must be answered within the period set by legislation. If no reply arrives or it is inadequate, the application can be repeated and escalated.

Common Mistakes

• Complaining without evidence: nothing happens without listing screenshots and an incident log.
• Relying on verbal warnings: no result follows without starting a written process.
• Not reading the management plan: a residential use clause is a strong basis.
• Arguing with the guests: escalates matters; the counterparty is the owner or operator.
• Relying on a single incident: without showing a pattern, the application is weak.

This content and these templates are for information only and are examples. Legislation on tourism letting is recent and may change; consult the current rules before applying.