What your short let has to contain.
The Sixth Schedule to S.L. 409.24 sets 148 standards for a Category E short let, and 137 of them are mandatory. Some apply only to some properties, so answer the five questions and the list becomes yours.
Does the property have
Showing 148 of 148. 137 mandatory.
Print this as a checklistGeneral requirements.
1.1 Premises
- 1.1.1
- If the premises are part of a block or a cluster of units, the approach and public areas shall have lighting and signage to enable guest to approach and identify the premises.
- Mandatory
- 1.1.2
- Each holiday premises to be clearly numbered and, or named and a sign affixed on the exterior of the unit. Provided that in case of short-term rentals, forming part of a condominium, such sign may be affixed to the exterior of the unit including on or adjacent to the entrance door of the individual unit. Such sign shall indicate the address and that the premises is a licensed short let rented accommodation including the relative official registration/licence number as well as the name and surname and contact number of a designated natural person who shall be available on a twenty-four (24) hour basis to receive complaints and to address any problems arising in connection with the licensed activity.
- Mandatory
- 1.1.3
- The exterior walls (facade, common areas etc.) of the premises shall be properly maintained.
- Mandatory
- 1.1.4
- Exterior lights shall be available on all units.
- Mandatory
1.2 Information
- 1.2.1
- Responsible person accessible by phone.
- Mandatory
- 1.2.2
- Prominent display in unit of 24-hour contact phone number and name of responsible person.
- Mandatory
- 1.2.3
- Prominent display in unit of 24-hour emergency contact numbers for ambulance, fire, police and medical practitioner.
- Mandatory
- 1.2.4
- Information on services and additional charges available on the premises.
- Mandatory
- 1.2.5
- Information on facilities and services, including emergency assistance available in the locality, is to be provided on the premises.
- Mandatory
- 1.2.6
- Copy of energy performance certificate affixed in a visible place.
- Mandatory
1.3 Furnishings
- 1.3.1
- Soft furnishings: pictures and decorative ornaments
- Mandatory
- 1.3.2
- The furniture, furnishings and equipment in the premises shall be of high standard, functional and very well maintained.
- Mandatory
1.4 General
- 1.4.1
- Safe deposit system available in unit.
- Mandatory
- 1.4.2
- Access to Internet or Wi-Fi for the whole premises.
- Mandatory
- 1.4.3
- First Aid box, prominently displayed and easily accessible.
- Mandatory
- 1.4.4
- All external apertures lockable and easily opened.
- Mandatory
1.5 General fire safety
- 1.5.1
- It is the responsibility of licensees and, or operators of holiday premises to ensure that their premises are safe from any fire safety hazard and any fire safety equipment is properly maintained.
- Mandatory
- 1.5.2
- Adequate internal and external emergency lighting and signage.
- Mandatory
Guest bedroom.
2.1 Room spatial standards
- 2.1.1
- Minimum floor area of a bedroom for one person shall not be less than 9 square metres, not including the bathroom if provided.
- Mandatory
- 2.1.2
- Additional floor area of 4 square metres of bedroom for additional person.
- Mandatory
- 2.1.3
- Minimum internal room width shall not be less than 2.75 metres.
- Mandatory
2.2 Layout
- 2.2.1
- Notwithstanding the room sizes, there shall be sufficient space to allow persons staying in room a good degree of [text clipped in the published PDF]
- Mandatory
- 2.2.2
- Bedroom is separate from kitchen or dining or living if not studio unit.
- Mandatory
2.3 Bed
- 2.3.1
- Minimum bed size: 80cm x 190cm for single; 135cm x 190cm for double.
- Mandatory
- 2.3.2
- Bed linen: 2 sheets and blanket with cover, or sheet and quilt with case cover, pillowcase.
- Mandatory
- 2.3.3
- 1 pillow per person.
- Mandatory
- 2.3.4
- Additional pillow per person on request.
- Mandatory
- 2.3.5
- Extra blanket per person on request.
- Mandatory
- 2.3.6
- Bed sheets changed at least once a week or on guest's request.
- Mandatory
- 2.3.7
- Bunk beds are not allowed.
- Mandatory
- 2.3.8
- Maximum number of persons allowed per room: 2, excluding infants making use of cots.
- Mandatory
2.4 Furniture and comfort
- 2.4.1
- Window or balcony allowing natural light and ventilation in room.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.2
- Blackout curtain, or similar, completely excluding natural or external light.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.3
- One dressing table and one chair or armchair.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.4
- One bedside table or night table for single beds. Two bedside tables or night tables for double beds.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.5
- TV services with monitor in a size appropriate for the room with a remote function including International TV [text clipped in the published PDF]
- Mandatory
- 2.4.6
- Bedside carpets (applicable to tiled floors) during period from 1st November to 31st May.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.7
- One wastepaper basket.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.8
- One mirror.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.9
- Wardrobe with minimum 5 matching clothes hangers per person. Simple wired hangers shall not fulfil this criterion.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.10
- Additional matching hangers per person on request
- Mandatory
- 2.4.11
- Chest of drawers.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.12
- Air-conditioning system for cooling and heating.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.13
- Individual bedside reading light.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.14
- Availability of baby cot upon request.
- Mandatory
- 2.4.15
- Universal adapter.
- Mandatory
Bathroom facilities.
3.1 General
- 3.1.1
- When a bathroom is shared, it shall have an independent access.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.2
- All bedrooms with ensuite bathroom.
- Optional
- 3.1.3
- 1 bath or shower for a maximum of 4 persons.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.4
- 1 water closet for a maximum of 4 persons.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.5
- Wash-hand basin for a maximum of 4 persons.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.6
- Continuous supply of cold and hot water.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.7
- Sanitary bin and sanitary bags to each water closet.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.8
- Toilet paper holder with two toilet paper rolls provided on arrival.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.9
- Toilet brush.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.10
- Effective system of lighting and of natural or mechanical ventilation.
- Mandatory
- 3.1.11
- Door with internal lock to ensure privacy.
- Mandatory
3.2 Bath or shower
- 3.2.1
- Bath or Shower
- Mandatory
- 3.2.2
- Continuous supply of cold and warm water.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.3
- Bath or shower facilities with curtain or similar.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.4
- Bath or shower wall and floor covered with impervious material.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.5
- Soap dispenser or soap dish to be provided in showers.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.6
- Towels hanger.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.7
- Three towels per person (hands towel, bath towel, and floor towel).
- Mandatory
- 3.2.8
- Four towels per person (hands towel, bath towel, an extra towel, and floor towel).
- Optional
- 3.2.9
- Towel changing at least twice weekly or on guest request.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.10
- Shelving or facility for holding toiletries per bath or shower room or cubicle or wash-hand basin.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.11
- 2 drinking glasses.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.12
- 1 clothes hook per bath or shower room or cubicle.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.13
- Mirror over and per wash-hand basin.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.14
- Magnifying or shaving mirror.
- Optional
- 3.2.15
- Hairdryer.
- Mandatory
- 3.2.16
- Bathrobe per person.
- Optional
Kitchen.
4.1 Layout
- 4.1.1
- Kitchen, kitchen area or kitchen facilities.
- Mandatory
- 4.1.2
- Kitchen, kitchen area or kitchen facilities separate from bedroom unless property is a studio apartment.
- Mandatory
4.2 Facilities
- 4.2.1
- Cooking facilities with at least 2 burners or heating elements.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.2
- Forced ventilation or extraction close to the cooking area.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.3
- Oven.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.4
- Microwave oven.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.5
- Dishwasher.
- Optional
- 4.2.6
- Fridge with freezer including ice cube trays.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.7
- Ice dispenser.
- Optional
- 4.2.8
- Kitchen unit with basin (stainless steel or solid and impermeable material) and draining board.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.9
- Adequate quantity of necessary cutlery, crockery and glassware including water and wine glasses.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.10
- Adequate quantity of necessary cooking utensils including firelighter, can, wine and bottle openers.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.11
- Kettle
- Mandatory
- 4.2.12
- Bread toaster.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.13
- 1 Fire extinguisher.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.14
- 1 Fire blanket.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.15
- Gas detection system if cooking facilities are run on gas.
- Mandatory
- 4.2.16
- Smoke detector
- Mandatory
Dining.
5.1 Layout
- 5.1.1
- Dining area or dining room.
- Mandatory
- 5.1.2
- Area to be homely, welcoming and comfortable.
- Mandatory
- 5.1.3
- Natural light and ventilation in room.
- Mandatory
5.2 Facilities
- 5.2.1
- One dining table.
- Mandatory
- 5.2.2
- Chairs (one per person).
- Mandatory
- 5.2.3
- Highchair provided on request.
- Mandatory
- 5.2.4
- Heating system.
- Mandatory
- 5.2.5
- Air-conditioning system for cooling and heating.
- Mandatory
- 5.2.6
- Possibility to darken the room.
- Mandatory
Living area.
6.1 Layout
- 6.1.1
- Living area.
- Mandatory
- 6.1.2
- Natural light.
- Mandatory
6.2 Facilities
- 6.2.1
- Sofa or two armchairs.
- Mandatory
- 6.2.2
- One coffee table.
- Mandatory
- 6.2.3
- TV services with monitor in a size appropriate for the room with a remote function including international television channels.
- Mandatory
- 6.2.4
- Mirror.
- Mandatory
- 6.2.5
- Full length mirror.
- Optional
- 6.2.6
- Sleeping accommodation in the living area is not allowed.
- Mandatory
- 6.2.7
- Air-conditioning system for cooling and heating
- Mandatory
- 6.2.8
- Black out curtains or similar.
- Mandatory
Other facilities and services.
7.1 Laundry
- 7.1.1
- Availability of clothes drying facilities
- Mandatory
- 7.1.2
- Iron and Iron Board
- Mandatory
- 7.1.3
- Steamer available on request
- Optional
- 7.1.4
- Washing machine.
- Optional
- 7.1.5
- Tumble dryer.
- Optional
7.2 Garbage or waste
- 7.2.1
- Refuse collection service. Schedule to be affixed in a visible place. Guests are to be informed of these arrangements and waste separation facilities (bin) to be provided i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e Waste Regulations (S.L. 549.63).
- Mandatory
- 7.2.2
- Property shall have a waste management plan.
- Mandatory
7.3 Lifts
- 7.3.1
- Lifts required to service all floors if access to premises is higher than two floors (Ground and First floors) provided that the Authority may exempt such requirement upon being provided reasonable and justifiable grounds due to heritage constraints.
- Mandatory
- 7.3.2
- Good state of lift (if applicable).
- Mandatory
7.4 Swimming pool
- 7.4.1
- Swimming pool facilities on site for sole use of guests.
- Optional
- 7.4.2
- Facilitated swimming pool access (ladders or stairs).
- Mandatory
- 7.4.3
- Depth markings clearly visible.
- Mandatory
- 7.4.4
- Diving prohibition signs prominently displayed where water depth is less than 1.5m.
- Mandatory
- 7.4.5
- Life-ring buoyancy aids complete with rope, clearly visible, sited and accessible.
- Mandatory
- 7.4.6
- Swimming pool area with adequate lighting.
- Mandatory
- 7.4.7
- Pool opening hours on display.
- Mandatory
- 7.4.8
- When pool is not attended by a responsible person, this shall be stated clearly in the pool area together with the telephone number and location of the immediate contact
- Mandatory
- 7.4.9
- Prominently displayed instructions in case of an emergency.
- Mandatory
- 7.4.10
- Efficient pool filtration system.
- Mandatory
7.5 Sun terrace or pool deck area
- 7.5.1
- To be provided if pool is available.
- Mandatory
- 7.5.2
- Non-slip tiles or material.
- Mandatory
- 7.5.3
- Table or similar.
- Mandatory
- 7.5.4
- Chairs or similar.
- Mandatory
- 7.5.5
- Deck chairs or sun-beds.
- Mandatory
- 7.5.6
- Parasol or shaded areas.
- Mandatory
7.6 Miscellaneous services
- 7.6.1
- Maid service available on a weekly basis and prior to the arrival of new guests.
- Mandatory
- 7.6.2
- Additional maid service provided on request.
- Mandatory
- 7.6.3
- Maintenance service on call.
- Mandatory
- 7.6.4
- Doctor service on call.
- Mandatory
- 7.6.5
- Baby-sitting service provided on request.
- Mandatory
- 7.6.6
- Pool cleaning service (if applicable).
- Mandatory
Maintenance and cleaning.
8 Maintenance and cleaning
- 8.1
- Good state of the facade, exterior and interior walls, floors and ceiling.
- Mandatory
- 8.2
- Good state and proper lighting of the facade and of other grounds managed by the operator.
- Mandatory
- 8.3
- Good state of furniture, soft furnishings, apertures, linen and towelling.
- Mandatory
- 8.4
- Installations, fittings, ventilation, air-conditioning system and other equipment in good operating conditions.
- Mandatory
- 8.5
- All light sockets and other electrical installations to be properly maintained and functional.
- Mandatory
- 8.6
- Maintenance service to be provided 12 hours a day.
- Mandatory
- 8.7
- The operator is obliged to inform the guest, prior to booking and arrival of any additional charges applicable to their booking or stay.
- Mandatory
The same list, as a sheet to walk the rooms with.
You get one tick box for each standard, filtered to the answers you gave above, so a property with no pool is not handed ten pool standards to ignore. We designed the sheet and we quote every standard word for word from the schedule. The MTA does not publish a form for this, and the sheet says so at the top.
137 mandatory standards, on paper
Prepared for the property you described above. The conditional standards you answered no to are left off rather than crossed out, because the schedule makes them conditional itself.
How this was transcribed.
The Sixth Schedule is a table inside a 102 page document that legislation.mt serves to a browser and nothing else. Pages 87 to 92, the first 75 standards, were read as rendered pages and typed out by hand. Pages 93 to 97 come from a parse whose columns line up one to one there, checked against page 93 read cell by cell. The mandatory marking is the schedule's own.
Two standards, 2.2.1 and 2.4.5, are marked as clipped. That is a defect in the published PDF, where the cell cuts its own text off mid-sentence, and not something lost on the way here.
Quoted rather than summarised throughout, because a summary of a standard is a new standard, and the wording is what an inspector reads.
thetenant.app is not the MTA and certifies nothing. Meeting these is the licence holder's duty, and an inspection is the only thing that settles it. Read the schedule itself in S.L. 409.24. Last checked on 9 August 2026.
Questions about the standards.
- How many standards does a Malta short let have to meet?
- The Sixth Schedule to S.L. 409.24 sets 148 standards for Category E short-let rented accommodation, and 137 of them are mandatory. Fewer than that apply to any one property, because a number of them are conditional on the place having the thing they describe.
- Are all of the short-let standards mandatory?
- No. 137 of the 148 are marked mandatory in the schedule's own column. The rest are recommended, and the list on this page shows which is which rather than merging them.
- Are sofa beds allowed in a Malta short let?
- The Sixth Schedule does not permit sofa beds or bunk beds, and it caps beds at two per room. The MTA told Times of Malta on 20 July 2026 that the sofa-bed ban is one of the measures reaching licences issued before 15 June 2026, unlike the occupancy caps and the minimum bedroom sizes.
- Do the minimum bedroom sizes apply to a property licensed before June 2026?
- The MTA told Times of Malta on 20 July 2026 that the minimum bedroom sizes, the two-per-bedroom and ten-person occupancy caps and the basement-bedroom ban reach only applications made from 15 June 2026, and that a property licensed before then keeps those acquired rights through renewal, including its bed count. That is the regulator quoted in a newspaper rather than something the instrument says on its own.
- Where can I read the Sixth Schedule myself?
- On legislation.mt, as S.L. 409.24. The list on this page is transcribed from that schedule by hand, because the table defeated every parser tried on it, so read the instrument if a decision turns on the exact wording.
Getting licensed