Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain
By Adam Woodward •
Published: 30 Oct 2024 • 0:31
• 1 minute read
Armed with angle grinders, the Marseille Council is removing key boxes hung in public view, used for short-term holiday rentals, such as Airbnb.
Marseille authorities are setting out on the hunt for key boxes that give keys to entrances of houses and apartments, and also hung on street furnishings such as benches, signposts, fences, and barriers. These small coded padlock-type cases allow owners of unlicensed short-term rentals, such as Airbnb advertisers, to provide keys to visitors without having to meet them personally.
The phenomenon has been accentuated by the explosion of short-term rentals in Marseille. There are already nearly 13,000 in the city today. After having placed a sticker on the key boxes to warn the owners of their misdemeanour, the council workers then cut them off with an angle grinder.
Marseille sends strong message to tourist rentals
This is meant as an initial ‘strong’ message in the face of the excesses of unlicensed tourist rentals. It seems if the investment seems juicy enough for the owners, it deprives the locals of housing opportunities, in the midst of one of the most serious housing crises in recent memory. There are now almost one in 10 dwellings in the 1st arrondissement dedicated solely to tourist accommodation.
Rental licensing laws have become extremely strict over the last couple of years in Marseille, and the city has decided to fight back. Mayor Benoît Payan promised ‘the strictest regulation in all of France to fight against Airbnb’. He aims to prevent all short-term rental of second homes.
Those owners who wish to rent their second home as a tourist apartment will now have to compensate by simultaneously creating another family-oriented home for rent.
We are only going to rent out to long-term citizens,’ said Patrick Amico, municipal councillor for housing. ‘Complain to the original operators of platforms like Airbnb. Only a main residence that can be rented for at least 120 days a year.’
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our
Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Passionate about music, food and the arts. After being completely immersed in the Spanish way of life for 25 years, I now share my knowhow and experience with you.
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment for robots
Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE!
Covering the Almeria, Axarquia, Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, Costa del Sol , Costa Calida, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home.
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close.
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Close
