In Nice, Ciotti relaxes the rules for tourist rentals

Last year, the former municipality had tightened the conditions for owners, in the wake of the Le Meur law, while the city, where housing represents a major challenge for working people, sees its supply of furnished tourist rentals climb every year.

But on Friday, the maximum rental period for a primary residence was increased from 90 to 120 days. For those exceeding this limit, the validity of a change-of-use permit was extended from three to five years, while the quotas established in the most affected neighborhoods were relaxed.

"We must not increase the number of furnished tourist rentals any further," promised Mr. Ciotti in the city council, while recalling that the city collected 25 million euros in tourist taxes per year, of which 10,6 million came from furnished tourist rentals.

The extension of the rental period of a main residence stems from respect for private property, he added, believing that Macronism had made owners its "cash cows".

Extending the validity of change-of-use permits is, however, a pragmatic choice given that the department only has 10 staff members. If applications are only reviewed every five years, this gives them more time for on-site inspections, which are currently almost non-existent.

Similarly, the relaxation of quotas is a compromise to end a procedure initiated by lessors before the administrative court.

"We're now putting as many tourist rentals on the market as we're creating social housing," lamented Juliette Chesnel-Le-Roux, a left-wing city councilor. "The far right claims to defend the people of Nice by replacing its inhabitants with suitcase carriers on wheels."