Short-term rentals have been banned in downtown Florence. Local authorities thus want to prevent Airbnb and other services to deplete the historic center and make the city more comfortable for locals.

So, in the old city of Florence (about 40 thousand people live there), it will no longer be possible to rent out apartments and rooms for short-term rent. However, this will affect only booking services. Plus, it will be impossible to register new short-term rentals—tourists will be able to stay only in existing properties that have been on the market for a long time. 

Thus, the amount of available short-term accommodation will be significantly limited. Currently, there are about 14,000 Airbnb apartments in the city. 

“Unless we take active measures, the situation will never change,” said Florence Mayor Dario Nardella.

As an alternative, the city plans to offer tax breaks to property owners who move to rent out their apartments for the long term. According to the idea, taxes on the second home will be canceled for up to three years, which could save several thousand euros.

Recall that students in Italian cities, including Florence, Milan, and Rome, staged protests to draw attention to the problem of affordable housing. At the same time, in Florence and in Venice, the housing shortage is exacerbated by short-term rentals, which cover periods of less than 30 days.

Similar restrictions are being introduced in various large cities. For example, in March, the authorities of Lucerne in Switzerland decided to take such a step. There, the owner can rent out his property for a short period of no more than 90 days a year.