Another European city announces new rules to stop tourists ‘taking homes’

Marseille has become the latest big city in Europe to announce restrictions on short-term holiday lets.

Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan has proposed a scheme that would see landlords renting holiday lets buying a further property to rent long term.

Euronews reports Mr Payan as telling French media: “I’m going to oblige anyone who wants to [rent a property on] Airbnb to buy an apartment and put it up for long-term rental.

“I’m going to use everything the law allows me as a weapon… It’s going to make them stop wanting to make money off the people of Marseille.”

A top destination for Airbnb, France is among several countries clamping down on short-term holiday rentals amid concerns they are making housing shortages worse by reducing supply.

Mr Payan told franceinfo radio that up to three quarters of property developers in the city were not from Marseille.

Under current rules, anyone who wants to rent out a second home on Airbnb has to get permission from local authorities.

The mayor said when he assumed office in 2020 only four percent of requests were turned down, but this has now risen to 82 percent.

Marseille’s leader told Maritima radio previously that his city will bring in the “strictest and strongest” regulations in France to “fight” Airbnb.

Some French cities have already introduced measures aimed at tackling issues raised by the online lettings platform.

People in Paris aren’t allowed to rent their entire home out on Airbnb for more than 120 days and have to declare rentals. A room in someone’s main residence can be rented out without limit.

Airbnb has said Europe is home to more than a million hosts, the highest number than any other region in the world.

The platform has argued hosting can help property owners supplement their exising income and benefit local economies.

New EU rules mean some hosts will have to register with authorities, which should also have access to short term rental data.

Airbnb has been approached for comment.