The conversation around temporary housing compliance just got more complicated

As if there wasn’t enough for Global Mobility teams to manage, 2026 brings a new raft of compliance considerations around temporary housing.

Credit:Jirapong Manustrong

Victoria Jackson – Head of Communications, SilverDoor

27 February 2026

We're increasingly hearing that home-share bookings are creating friction in international visa and relocation processes. Work and relocation visas typically require formal proof of accommodation, and a private, vacation rental, or home-share booking often doesn't always satisfy that requirement. For an assignee mid-application, any delay can have consequences to the relocation timeline.Generally, the direction of travel is towards stricter governance and tighter regulatory pressures that can affect employers, guests, and home-share hosts alike. This can expose all parties to obligations or risks they may not even be aware of and could have legal, financial and duty of care implications for corporate mobility progams.Rental regulations are also evolving; it’s a volatile regulatory landscape and if you’re managing a global program, it’s a lot to keep track of. As one source put it, ‘If your company uses lump sums and lets employees manage their own housing, your 2026 risk profile has just skyrocketed.’Depending on the destination and length of stay, there are considerations it’s useful to be aware of, especially if you include any lumpsum or flex options for temporary housing requirements.Stays of 30 nights and over can trigger a number of rules driven by legislation including the incoming Renters’ Rights Act 2026 in the UK, the EU’s 2026 Data Regulation laws and - most recently - California's SB 346. Mandated data sharing, payment restrictions, levies, and Registration Schemes are live across many international destinations and home share properties are required to comply with a number of new safety, fiscal and legal requirements.

What can Global Mobility teams do?

Depending on the type of Visa that’s being applied for, the type of accommodation booked does matter. Ensure you know exactly what documents are required before booking, that your accommodation can provide them, and that they will be acceptable.
For US-based assignees on H-1B or similar visas the address filed with USCIS on arrival needs to be correct. If your assignee has to move, and doesn’t update the government this can cause issues.
Always check the local rules for your length of stay, these can vary widely, even within a country.
Always ensure you get the unique National Registration ID for the property (UK/EU/UAE and various locations in APAC)
Check the planning use class and the status of the property, keep an eye on changes in local regulations as this could result in properties becoming non-compliant and losing their operating licence.
If you’re staying under 30 nights, beware of any short stay levies that may apply in the destination, these are commonplace in Australia and Japan.
Ensure your booking meets local minimum-stay thresholds, in Singapore for example it’s not permitted to rent a private unit for less than three consecutive months. Government portals and industry bodies such as GBTA are good sources of accurate information.
Many sure the Rent Payment Terms are clarified, and the host will not require full payment upfront. There are different rules for different locations, but in the UK for example from May 2026 rent must be paid monthly so if an employee uses their lump sum to pay for 3 or 6 months upfront (as is standard on Airbnb), the host will be technically committing a civil offence under the new 2026 regulations.
Consider making allowances in your lump sum policy for an emergency repatriation or rehousing budget. If self-booked accommodation falls through for any reason, if the host exceeds their night limit, or if there are any safety or security concerns over the accommodation then guests may have to leave.
Check insurance policies, you may have cover for emergency evacuation or rehousing, but your policy may be voided if the property is not compliant.
Or…just book with SilverDoor.

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