The parliamentarians want to attack in particular “the tax niche of Airbnb”, explains the deputy EELV Julien Bayou, on France Inter. The parliamentarians propose seven measures, to act at the “fiscal, regulatory and legislative” level.
Four parliamentarians from different political sides are launching an initiative on Tuesday, May 2 to better regulate the rental of short-term tourist accommodation, explains on France Inter one of them, the deputy Europe-Ecology Les Verts de Paris Julien Bayou.
This initiative is therefore launched with three other of his colleagues, the PS deputy of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Iñaki Echaniz, the Horizons deputy of Charente-Maritime Christophe Plassard and the senator Les Républicains of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Max Brisson. He “there is an urgent need to act”declares the deputy EELV on France Inter.
The parliamentarians propose seven measures to act at the level “fiscal, regulatory and legislative”. Julien Bayou is calling “the government to act” and to put pressure on the executive, he invites local elected officials to join the “encadronsairbnb.fr” platform.
A lack of year-round accommodation in some cities
The ecologist deputy considers that in France “the number of nights [dans les meublés touristiques de courte location] numbers in the tens of millions each year”with in Paris more “short-term furnished ads than classic rentals”. And it is not always about owners who rent out their accommodation during their absence.
“In the 3rd arrondissement, half of the Airbnb ads are from owners who put several accommodations.”
Julien Bayou, EELV deputyat France Inter
However, according to the deputy, this proliferation of seasonal rentals is part of the housing crisis which is hitting the major tourist towns and those of the “Atlantic coastline”. Indeed, devoting accommodation solely to tourist rental “remove housing from the market” long-term rental, even though the country is facing “a housing construction problem”. “We organize the shortage”laments Julien Bayou.
Tax too advantageous?
If short-term tourist rental platforms are so popular, it is because of their lucrativeness, explains Julien Bayou who wants “End Airbnb’s tax loophole”. The end of advantageous taxation is moreover one of the proposals put forward by the four parliamentarians to avoid “to push the owners to crime”. “When you put your accommodation up for normal rental, you are taxed on the rents, but you are much less or even not taxed on the rents that come from Airbnb, those that come from short-term rentals”, denounces Julien Bayou. The member for Paris maintains that a “the same accommodation should produce the same tax, regardless of the duration of the rental”.
The elected officials also wish to reduce the number of nights authorized for the rental of a main residence. Today, the ceiling is set at 120 days, but for Julien Bayou “90 days is enough”. He even offers “extend it to second homes”. The four parliamentarians also want “increase regulatory autonomy for “local” authorities, in order to “allow municipalities to act correctly”. Julien Bayou highlights the fact that “the action [des maires] is a little disorganized today”. Finally, the Green MP proposes to ban the rental of thermal colanders via tourist platforms, in order to align with the traditional real estate market.