Do you want to turn a trullo into a B&B? Here's what you need to do

Turning a trullo into a B&B is a great way to generate income-extra. Bed and breakfasts in Puglia, are a smart solution to take advantage of the large tourist flow in our region. 

Before making such a decision you need to understand and know the various documents, laws and requirements needed.

What does it take to turn a trullo into a B&B?

To open a bed and breakfast, in Apulia, it is essential to submit to the SUAP of the municipality, where the property is registered, the SCIA (Segnalazione Certificata di Inizio Attività) documentation using the forms that can be downloaded from the Apulia Region website.

Beware: in Puglia those who carry out bed and breakfast activities, without the right authorizations, face an administrative penalty of 5,000 to 10,000 euros as well as the closure of the B&B.

Bed and breakfast familial e bed and breakfast entrepreneurial

The Apulia Region encourages the presence and development of bed and breakfasts, a great way to promote and enhance sustainable tourism. Starting a B&B business in a trullo, is a winning strategy to capture the attention of vacationers.

The law, identifies two different types of B&Bs.

1.Familial bed and breakfast

• the accommodation business must be carried on in the house in which one resides permanently and on a non-continuous basis; 

• only breakfast and lodging may be offered; 

• no more than 3 rooms with 9 beds may be made available to guests;

• may provide such service for a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of 270 days per year; 

• registration in the business register is not required.

Please note: In municipalities that do not exceed ten thousand inhabitants and within rural villages or historic centers, the accommodation business may also be carried out in physically distant properties, not more than one hundred meters away.

2.Entrepreneurial Bed and breakfast 

• the accommodation business must be carried on in the house in which one resides permanently and continuously and in an entrepreneurial form;

• only breakfast and lodging may be offered;

• no more than 6 rooms with 18 beds may be made available to guests;

• such accommodation activity must be carried out in a single real estate unit, that is, in two real estate units located in the same building or in two buildings not more than one hundred meters apart;

• registration in the commercial register is required.

Obligations on those engaged in B&B activities

• obligation to display registration in the business register, for entrepreneurial B&Bs;

• take out an insurance policy, only for entrepreneurial B&Bs; 

• at the end of each stay, you must issue the guest with a suitable tax document to confirm payment;

• display the regional brand name on the outside;

• comply with public safety obligations; 

• display the periods of activity, prices charged, accommodation capacity and copy of the SCIA; 

• communicate to the Regional Agency Pugliapromozione and the competent municipality the applied prices inherent to the following year and the periods of activity; 

• communicate to the Pugliapromozione Regional Agency the movement of guests for statistical purposes.

Mandatory minimum requirements and services for bed and breakfasts

• the bathroom cannot be shared with the host family; there must be at least one bathroom for every two rooms;   

• linen must be changed twice a week at each guest change;

• provide daily cleaning service; 

• provide hot water, electricity and heating;

• the property must comply with the minimum floor area of 8 square meters for one-bed rooms, 12 square meters for two-bed rooms, with a requirement to increase by 4 square meters for each additional bed;

• breakfast must be served, exclusively in one of the shared family spaces. As for products, traditional and typical ones should be preferred, preferably organic.

The secret to a successful B&B

To turn a trullo into a successful B&B, attention must be paid to every single detail. Tourists today are looking for an experience, they want to live a stay dedicated to discovering the magical and secret places of Puglia. 

Comfort, courtesy, cleanliness: these are just some of the features that distinguish Itria. Itria is the right portal to give visibility to your B&B, come and discover our service. Trust us, make your bed and breakfast in Puglia unique.

Visit our website, so many experiences and dream stays are waiting for you!