by Catherine Mills, Airlines and Destinations
The municipality of Florence has announced that it will ban the use of residential properties for short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, in its historic center.
The aim is to encourage housing in the historic center of Florence
Florence is one of the main tourist destinations in Italy. However, the influx of tourists has driven residents out of the historic city center. The city’s mayor, Dario Nardella, provides tax incentives for landlords who “want to collaborate and return” on the use of their property for long-term rentals.
“If we don’t try to take politically innovative measures, nobody will move. We are fed up with promises, this problem has become structural.
Meanwhile students from Florence and other big cities are mistreated
According to the Associated Press, students in Italian cities such as Milan, Rome and Florence are camping out in tents on campuses to protest the lack of affordable housing. Florence and Venice have seen a dramatic increase in the number of properties used for short term rental. A short term rental is defined as any period less than 30 days.
The Italian government would be concerned about this issue
The measure announced by the city council of Florence anticipates a project under discussion by the Italian government. This project promises a set of actions to curb short-term rentals in the coming weeks. Florence plans to offer a tax incentive to those who convert their homes to long-term rentals. Cities around the world have blamed the growing popularity of Airbnb and similar services for the depopulation of their historic centers.
As the supply of properties for tourists increases, the number of residences for long-term contracts decreases, driving up rental prices and forcing local residents to seek cheaper and more remote areas.
The city has about 11,000 short-term private rentals.
Editor's Note:
Do you have first hand experience of how the proliferation of premises being used for short-term accommodation (such as AirBNBs) are impacting your lifestyle and sense of community? We welcome your contributions to this blog, and you can remain anonymous. Should you mention any statistics, a link to the source would help us keep material accurate and verifiable. Emails to: nnsnoosa1@gmail.com
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