Growing number of governments crack...

Restrictions on short-term rentals to curb rising house prices and antisocial behaviour

A growing number of governments are targeting restrictions on short-term rentals after blaming the popularity of Airbnb for house price inflation and over-tourism.

This year, Florence announced a ban on new Airbnb listings and short-term holiday rentals in its historic city centre. The law, which targets rentals of less than 30 days and is yet to be finalised, would enforce a two-day minimum stay in cities and tourist hotspots. Rome also has tight restrictions on short-term rentals.

Parisians seeking to rent their primary residence on Airbnb need to register with the local town hall and are limited to 120 days of rental a year. The city has a specialist unit to hunt down illegal rentals and fine offenders.

Berlin has recently lifted its ban on Airbnb but strict rules and fines for offenders remain.

To combat rising rental prices, Portugal has stopped issuing new licences for Airbnb rentals except in rural areas. All licences for holiday lets will now be reviewed every five years.

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A growing number of cities in the US are also tightening regulations on Airbnb. In June, Airbnb sued New York over its ‘de facto ban’ on short-term rentals, which places strict registration, zoning and maintenance rules on hosts, who will be required to provide proof that they live in the properties with their guests.

In Asia, the Malaysian resort of Penang introduced a ban on short-term holiday rentals in May 2023.