This post was originally published on this site
https://i-invdn-com.investing.com/trkd-images/LYNXMPEJ501OO_L.jpg
Dario Nardella, the mayor of one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations, said his city would pursue new rules at a local level because he regarded draft nationwide plans to regulate the sector as disappointing.
Under Nardella’s proposal, dubbed ‘save historic centres’, the mayor plans to block new short-term rental contracts and offer tax breaks to encourage more permanent forms of residence.
Nardella is a member of the centre-left PD party, which is part of the opposition at national level.
As in other European countries, a mixture of low salaries, a property shortage, short-term holiday rentals and high inflation have driven a housing crisis, with low-wage earners and students hit hard in Italy.
The central government is working on a bill, which according to Italian media reports, would require each residential property rented to tourists to have a national identification code to help track and regulate lettings. Those failing to comply would risk a penalty of up to 5,000 euros ($5,500).
Additionally, authorities in the most visited cities would have the right to impose a minimum stay of two nights in the context of short rentals in their city centres.
Florence is home to the Uffizi art gallery and its city centre was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1982.
Student protests against the rising cost of living in big cities spread across Italy since last month.
Airbnb did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. ($1 = 0.9084 euros)
