Your vacation rental, is it legal?

[htmb]

Illegal vacation rentals have been the topic of discussion on other forums recently, so the title below caught my attention when I saw it posted on the New York Times website:

A Warning for Hosts of Airbnb Travelers

[Deleted]

There has been a lot about the same problem in Paris on several other travel forums. There are 20,000 "vacant" apartments in Paris, many of which are used for illegal vacation rentals, which bring in 3 or 4 times the rate of a normal lease. In most cases, payment is demanded in cash to make sure that there is no official trace of the revenue so that it won't be taxed.

The city of Paris has very few building inspectors to track down these places, so it relies mostly on other people reporting the situation. This is a bit different from the times of Nazi collaboration (which is a quick accusation made by these poor persecuted tourists) because 1) this is a totally normal rental law passed by a democratic government and 2) the reason that the neighbours are enraged is that strangers go in and out of the building at all hours of the day and night, making noise, breaking the fragile elevators with their luggage (or bumping it up and down the stairs), incorrectly sorting their rubbish, running the washing machine in the middle of the night, etc. When just one apartment in a building is rented out this way, it can be brought under control when the owners leave a specific rule book for visitors, but a lot of the places in the centre have 3 or 4 or more flats rented out this way, so it is like having a hostile occupying army in the building for the permanent residents.

[Deleted]

There are 20,000 "vacant" apartments in Paris, many of which are used for illegal vacation rentals, which bring in 3 or 4 times the rate of a normal lease

But why do people pay 3 or 4 times for an illegal rental when they can get the same thing above board for a much less price. What benefits does it bring them to do it this way?

[Deleted]

A normal lease is for 3 years in France (or one year for a furnished flat). So, for example, if the rent is 1000€ a month under a normal lease, these illegal landlords can often get 1000€ a week for the same place. For people who think that a hotel room in Paris (of "appropriate" standards) costs 200€ a night, they think that this is a bargain.

[ninchursanga]

Thanks for sharing the article. I've used airbnb more than once and although I like the whole concept and had good experiences with it I've also wondered if hosts are complying with legal standards/ breaking some rules or laws.

[Deleted]

There are more than 1 million offers in France for b&b and one can imagine not all are declared. There is a big 'grey' zone what result also from the a) hate the French has against any laws and rules and b) the 'je m'en foutism' (translation approx. "they couln't give a damn"). This article gives good information about: france.angloinfo.com/working/self-employment/running-a-gite/
If one will be sure, also a question of insurance, he can ask just for the official immatriculation from the owner.

[lagatta]

Perhaps there should be more legal and declared self-catering flats/studios in buildings created or renovated for that specific purpose. Lots of people nowadays don't want to have to eat out three times a day.

[Deleted]

Strangely enough, I have received several emails from the Adagio chain (apartment hotels owned by Accor) with a winter special offer all over quite a bit up Europe with rates around 45-60€ a night if you book for a 3-day minimum. Unfortunately, there is no place where I need or want to be for 3 days at the moment or I would have liked to try their product.