Paris joins clampdown on holiday apartment rentals, blamed for housing shortage

French capital takes advantage of new law to curb apartment rentals to tourists. Officials say practice limits housing supply for residents

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Paris is clamping down on short-term apartment rentals, a US$1 billion-plus annual earner for property owners. Officials blame lets to tourists for the housing shortages residents face. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 2:15pm, 29 Nov 2024

Paris has unveiled new regulations tightening restrictions on holiday apartment rentals, hoping to ease a housing shortage with measures including fines of up to €100,000 (US$105,000) for breaches.

France’s parliament approved a bill this month allowing cities to clamp down on short-term furnished rentals to combat a lack of affordable housing.

The French capital, one of the world’s top tourist destinations, is among many cities worldwide where officials and activists complain rentals are encouraging “Airbnb entrepreneurs” and speculators to snap up real estate, leading to housing shortages for residents.

Under new rules approved by the Paris city council, which take effect on January 1, the maximum number of days a primary residence can be rented will be slashed from 120 per year to 90.

New rules in Paris limit the number of days a primary residence can be let to 90 a year, and increase fines for owners. Photo: AFP

Owners will be required to declare their properties on a national online registry and prove their properties are primary residences, with fraudsters facing a €20,000 fine.