Marseille limits rental of main residences as furnished tourist accommodation to 90 days

The city of Marseille is "toughening its stance" against furnished tourist accommodation by limiting the possibility of renting out one's main residence in this way to 90 days, as the law now authorises, it announced in a press release on Monday 17 February.

Until now, rental was possible for a maximum of 120 days per year.

In the event of an excess, a fine of 15.000 euros will be incurred, under a law passed on November 19 giving municipalities new tools to combat the explosion of furnished tourist accommodation such as Airbnb.

"I have always said that in Marseille, we will have the strictest and strongest regulations in France to combat furnished tourist accommodation. With this new measure, we are taking an additional step and getting closer to it," explained the diverse left-wing mayor Benoît Payan, quoted in the press release.

In some neighborhoods, the proliferation of these short-term rentals is arousing growing hostility, particularly in Panier, a historic hill located above the Old Port. Particularly in a city that is experiencing a serious housing crisis and has around 40.000 slums and at least as many pending applications for social housing.

The town hall has therefore undertaken to regulate the sector by imposing a tourist tax, limiting changes in use to furnished tourist accommodation, requiring the removal of non-compliant advertisements and combating key boxes.

Other cities in France, such as Paris, Saint-Malo and the Basque Country Urban Community have taken measures to regulate furnished tourist accommodation, accused of driving up property prices and hindering access to housing for locals.

Paris has also lowered this annual rental duration ceiling in the same way since January 1.