2026 Enforcement Active — 3-year ban for unlicensed short-lets

Your Malta Property Needs an MTA Licence.
We Handle It.

From document preparation and Perit coordination to MTA submission, inspection and approval, Eleva manages the entire licensing process. You sign where needed. We handle the rest.

Get My Free Compliance Check
Free · No commitment · Reply within 24h
4–6 wks
Avg licence timeline
Thorough
Applications reviewed before submission
Included
Eleva licensing fee
4.9★
Portfolio guest rating
Risk of operating unlicensed
What's at stake in 2026
1st offence fine
€2,330
Repeat offence
€5,000
Listing removal risk
Yes
Licence ban (2026 law)
3 years
Eleva licensing fee
Included
⚖️
Legal requirement since 2016
Tourist short-let accommodation in Malta generally requires the appropriate MTA licence
🔍
Online platforms must support the display of required registration information
EU Regulation 2024/1028 — applicable since 20 May 2026
🚫
Unlicensed = 3-year application ban
Legal Notice 92 of 2026 — Malta
📊
Platforms share short-let activity data with the relevant authorities
Short-let activity is increasingly visible through platform reporting

Property owners come to us with the same four problems

01

"I know I need the licence but I don't know where to start — there are so many documents."

The MTA requires 6+ documents: proof of ownership, Perit declaration, insurance, building permits, and more. Eleva prepares the entire package — you provide your ID and title deed. We handle everything else.

02

"I'm already advertising my property without the required licence. How can I become compliant?"

You're not alone — many Malta owners are in this position. Acting promptly can reduce your exposure to enforcement action and gives you time to address any licensing or property-compliance issues.

03
"I started the application myself, got stuck on the Perit requirement, and gave up."

The Perit (certified architect) declaration is the most common sticking point. Eleva coordinates directly with a qualified Maltese Perit and prepares the property against the applicable MTA requirements.

04

"I live abroad. How can I possibly manage a Malta licence application remotely?"

Most of our owners are overseas. Eleva acts as your full local representative — we submit, attend inspections, and receive correspondence on your behalf. You don’t need to be in Malta.

From Compliance Review to Licence Application in 4 Steps

We manage the full licensing journey — plus set your property up to perform from day one.

1
Day 1
Free Compliance Audit

We review your property's current status — planning permits, documentation gaps, compliance issues — and give you a clear action plan at no cost and no commitment.

No cost · No commitment
2
Weeks 1–2
Document Preparation

We gather all required documents — Perit declaration, fire safety, insurance, building permits — and prepare the full MTA application. You provide ID and title deed. We handle the rest.

You provide 2 docs. We handle 6+.
3
Weeks 2–6
MTA Submission & Inspection

We submit via the MTA portal, conduct a pre-inspection walkthrough against MTA standards, and attend the official inspection. Our properties overwhelmingly pass first time.

Fully handled by Eleva
4
Post-Approval
Launch & Start Earning

Once licensed, we photograph your property, build optimised listings on Airbnb, Booking.com and more, activate AI pricing — and manage everything on an ongoing basis.

Annual renewal monitored and managed

How We Compare

Transparent side-by-side: DIY, a standard manager, and Eleva.

Feature
Do It Yourself
Standard Manager
Eleva Malta
MTA licence management
✕ You figure it out
~ Varies
✓ Full-service, included
Perit / architect coordination
✕ Source and pay yourself
~ Sometimes
✓ Coordination included. Perit professional fees may be charged separately.
Inspection preparation
✕ No guidance
~ Basic advice
✓ Pre-inspection walkthrough
Annual licence renewal
✕ You track and manage
~ Varies by contract
✓ Renewal deadlines monitored
Eco-tax collection & remittance
✕ Manual responsibility
~ Sometimes
✓ Collection and reporting managed
AI dynamic pricing
✕ Manual pricing
✓ Daily rate optimisation
Setup / onboarding fee
N/A
✕ Often charged
✓ No separate Eleva onboarding fee
Lock-in contract
N/A
✕ Typically 12 months
✓ Clear termination terms
Fee structure
All costs on you
~10%+VAT of gross
30% of accommodation revenue after OTA commission
2026 compliance management
~
✓ Compliance reviewed before launch

Eleva's fee is calculated on accommodation revenue after OTA commission. Management fees should be compared based on the complete scope of services included, such as licensing support, pricing, guest communication, reporting and operational coordination.

Everything Handled. Nothing Left to You.

Licensing is just the beginning. Once approved, Eleva manages every aspect of your property.

📋

MTA Licence Application

Full document prep, Perit coordination, MTA portal submission, inspection attendance, and approval tracking. Every application is reviewed for documentation and compliance gaps before submission.

✓ Included in management
🔄

Annual Licence Renewal

Eleva tracks every renewal date, prepares the renewal paperwork, and resubmits before expiry. We monitor renewal deadlines and initiate the renewal process in advance to reduce the risk of licence expiry.

✓ Included in management
💶

Eco-Contribution & Tax

The applicable eco-contribution is recorded and reported through the management process, with relevant figures included in your monthly statement.

✓ Included in management
📸

Professional Photography

Professional photography can improve listing presentation, click-through rate and booking conversion. Eleva organises and funds the shoot as part of your onboarding — no extra cost.

✓ Included in management
📊

AI Dynamic Pricing

Your nightly rate is adjusted daily based on Malta demand, competitor rates, local events, and seasonal patterns. Dynamic pricing is designed to improve performance compared with static or infrequently updated rates.

Ongoing management
🎧

24/7 Guest Communication

Every enquiry answered, every issue resolved — in English, Italian, and other major languages. Eleva-managed properties are supported by responsive guest communication designed to maintain strong review performance.

Ongoing management

Licensed Properties Earn More.

Estimated owner payout after assumed OTA commission and Eleva's management fee, before property operating costs and taxation. Based on BnbCalc market data from May 2026.

Property Type
Location
Avg Occupancy
Avg Nightly Rate
Estimated Owner Payout
Studio
Sliema / St Julian's
65%
€110/night
€1,550
1 Bedroom
Sliema
65%
€133/night
€1,870
1 Bedroom
Valletta
75%
€130/night
€2,060
2 Bedrooms
St Julian's
66%
€168/night
€2,340
2 Bedrooms
Mellieħa
64%
€183/night
€2,460
3 Bedrooms
Valletta / Sliema
70%
€234/night
€3,450

Estimate = gross accommodation revenue less an assumed 15% OTA commission and Eleva's 30% management fee. It excludes utilities, cleaning and linen costs, maintenance, insurance, licence-related expenses, taxes and other property operating costs. Actual results vary.

Compliance-Led PortfolioEvery Eleva-managed property holds a valid MTA licence
Compliance MonitoringLicensing deadlines and regulatory requirements are actively monitored
Real-Time Owner PortalEarnings, bookings, and statements accessible 24/7
24/7 Owner & Guest SupportRound-the-clock assistance, every day of the year

What owners say

★★★★★

I tried to apply for the MTA licence myself for three months. Eleva had it approved in five weeks and my property live on Airbnb the week after. I wish I'd called them on day one.

MB
Marco B.
2-bedroom, Valletta · Owner since 2025
★★★★★

I live in London and was convinced managing a Maltese short-let from abroad was impossible. Eleva handled the licence, the inspection, and the first three months of bookings — I didn't need to be there once.

SK
Sarah K.
1-bedroom, Sliema · Owner since 2025
★★★★★

When I heard about the 2026 enforcement changes I panicked — I'd been renting without a licence for two years. Eleva sorted everything within six weeks. Fully compliant before the deadline.

GM
Giuseppe M.
3-bedroom, St Julian's · Owner since 2024
★★★★★

I switched from another agency after two years of missed renewals and zero transparency. The difference with Eleva has been night and day — everything is handled and I receive clear monthly reports.

AT
Anna T.
Studio, Valletta · Owner since 2026
★★★★★

My Mellieha apartment earns more in summer than I expected for the full year. The AI pricing makes a real difference — consistently above what I was getting with manual management.

DC
David C.
2-bedroom, Mellieħa · Owner since 2025
★★★★★

The eco-tax and paperwork side of things always stressed me out. With Eleva it's all automatic — I see it on the monthly statement and never have to think about it. Complete peace of mind.

LF
Laura F.
1-bedroom, Gzira · Owner since 2025

What owners ask about the MTA licence

Do I need a licence if I only rent occasionally?

Tourist accommodation offered on a short-let basis must hold the appropriate MTA Short-Let Rented Accommodation Licence, subject to the applicable property category and regulations.

Does each property need its own licence?

Yes. Licences are property-specific — not owner-specific or agency-specific. If you own three apartments and want to rent all three, you need three separate licences, each with its own application, inspection, and annual fee. There is no blanket licence covering multiple units.

How long does the licensing process take?

The MTA targets 5 working days for document vetting, followed by a property inspection, and 10 further working days for approval. In practice, plan for 4–6 weeks from submission to licence — assuming the documentation is complete and the property satisfies the applicable requirements at inspection.

I live abroad — can Eleva handle everything remotely?

Yes — most of our owners are overseas. Eleva acts as your full local representative. We submit the application, manage MTA correspondence, attend the inspection, and receive the licence on your behalf. You don't need to be in Malta at any point during the process.

What if my property fails the MTA inspection?

Before any MTA submission, Eleva conducts a full pre-inspection walkthrough of your property against MTA standards. We identify and resolve compliance gaps — fire equipment, furnishing requirements, signage — before the official visit. Our properties have a strong first-time pass rate as a result.

What does the MTA licence cost?

The MTA annual licence fee is €130 per unit in Malta (€104 in Gozo), paid directly to the MTA by the owner. A one-time application fee also applies. Eleva's licensing-management service is included in the ongoing management agreement without a separate Eleva service fee. MTA, Perit and other third-party costs remain payable where applicable.

Can I rent my property while the application is pending?

No. You must hold a valid licence before accepting any bookings. Under the new EU and Malta regulatory framework, online platforms must support registration-information requirements and share relevant short-let activity data with the competent authorities.

Get Your Free Compliance Check

Free, no obligation. We'll review your property's licence status and send you a personalised income estimate within 24 hours.

No commitment. Response within 24 hours. Your data is never shared.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.