Shimla
In Himachal Pradesh, it is now illegal to run homestays in apartments or rental buildings. New rules for the homestays have been created by the state government and will soon be accessible on the registration websites.
The government has made it mandatory to provide for portal registration in the name of the property owner alone. According to revenue records, the homestay certificate will only be issued in the name that appears on the jamabandi.
The government has published the revised Home Stay Rules 2025 in the gazette. Due to these rules, all bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) and homestays in the state must be re-registered. The tourist agency has been directed by the state government to prohibit home stays in apartments, rental buildings, and one- or two-room suites.
While property acquisitions and building development in the state require authorization under Section 118, apartments can be purchased without consent. Numerous individuals from neighboring states have bought flats in the state’s popular tourist locations and rented them out for homestays.
Under the new system that the state government has put in place, homestay registration requires a distinct unit (independent residence). There must be a clear way for the homestay in order to safeguard the privacy of the guests living here. A homestay’s operations ought to occupy a whole floor or the entire building. Operating under lease has been declared to be completely illegal, and the government has instructed the travel agency to register the homestay only in the building owner’s name.
Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Association President Tanuja Dantha says, There are no clear guidelines for doing homestays in rental flats and buildings under the Home Stay Scheme 2008. The organization had requested that the government ensure that the people of Himachal will benefit from the initiative. We are grateful that the government has responded to our request with directions.
