Vacation rentals and Loi Alur

[gabriele]

This topis has started being discussed on Thorn Tree but since many people concerned with Paris do not follow Thorn Tree threads, here is some basic information I have come across.

SPLM isw an association of various parties concerned with vacation rentals, particularly based in France and more so in Paris.
SPLN members pay the taxes that a hotel would collect and have a commitment to service to the customer, the industry and the neighborhood. I had rented a cottage from a member in 2004 or so and followed the owner who then became part of a larger company specializing in Montmartre rentals. When the subject of the Loi ALUR came up, I contacted her for more information. She provided me links to the SPLM website and other background information.

Statement (in French) from the head of SPLM to the mayors of Paris (who it seems may have control over the implementation of the law):
www.splm-france.fr/loi-alur-2/

Seven Keys to Understand the law:
www.splm-france.fr/les-7-cles-pour-bien-comprendre-la-loi-alur/

News (which includes other LOI ALUR links:
www.splm-france.fr/category/actualites/

About SPLM:
www.splm-france.fr/about-us/

Their arguments again implementing the law against all temporary rentals (non-hotel) are valid and I'm sure this will become much discussed and debated.
While I may never visit Paris again, I would like to think that the convenience and pleasures of having one's own space while in Paris will be possible for all who can afford it. As an argument against the full applicaiton of the law, they point out that offshore companies could rent apartments and avoid the law if done discretely. Since I have read some horror stories on TT about people who booked online and ended up with a place that failed to provide what was offered and no refund given (more in other countries than in France).

Kerouac I know you posted on TT about this so hope you will add any news you get, thanks

gabriele (sfgirl)

[Deleted]

Enforcement has been extremely limited so far. The only risk for renters is to arrive and find that the property is not available -- they will never be prosecuted, because they are not at fault. But since most renters of vacation apartments in Paris seem to plan 6 months or more ahead of time, I cannot even imagine the horror they would feel to suddenly found themselves without accommodations.

It's going to happen sooner or later, but I have no idea when the big crackdown will finally start (as it did in NYC and just about everything was yanked off the market).

When I think of renting an apartment, the only major reason that I ever entertain is to be able to cook my own meals. Reading reports on all of the travel sites, I have noticed that it is a minority view, since most people just want to be able to have breakfast there, or have more room, or just have the feeling of "being at home." It seems that most people do not want to actually cook meals on their holiday and I absolutely understand that, particularly from the point of view of the "main meal cooker" of the family. I have had numerous (female) friends and colleagues over the years whose principal concept of a holiday is to not have to set foot in a kitchen.

As for France, I tend to recommend the completely legal Adagio or Citadines chains which rent serviced apartments. Okay, they don't have the cute knickknacks that help people to have the illusion of being "at home" but they certainly provide the extra space and the kitchen that people appreciate. Big cities are not the best places to pretend to "play house." If you want to do that, look for vacation rentals in small villages.

[lagatta]

Those are quite expensive though. Yes, I do want to cook my own meals, or rather, at least not have to eat out three times a day. And have an excuse to explore markets. I don't need the knickknacks.

Perhaps Adagio, which has some locations in the East End, might be a bit cheaper than Citadines?

I don't mean I'd be roasting a chicken; why would I, with the quality and reasonable price of French rôtisserie chicken?

I think eventually there will be more development in this direction, as hotel accommodation does not correspond to how many people want to live away from home. But of course, there are also fake "holiday rentals" that are actually rented out all the time, and that means less housing for Parisians and other city dwellers.

[bjd]

A friend and I recently rented an Airbnb in Germany (photo report coming in the near future) and it was great. Not that we wanted to cook, but we did eat breakfast and supper there after shopping at a market or supermarket. The lady was called away unexpectedly so we had her whole house to ourselves and it was a pleasure to eat supper on the terrace over the garden, without having to walk around to look for a place to eat. The owner had provided some basics (tea, coffee, oil, vinegar) and left space in her fridge for us, but my idea of a vacation is not cooking, since I'm stuck doing it all the rest of the year.

And it was very reasonably priced compared to a hotel and definitely much nicer than any hotel I would ever go.

That was my first Airbnb experience, but my friend had already done so several times in different places, including Bologna and Marseille, and is convinced that it is a great way to stay somewhere a few days and feel "at home".

I think the problem in Paris is the backlash from the hotel industry. There was already a problem a few years ago about short-term rentals and leases have to be minimum one year, if I'm not wrong (although I'm sure people still get around it).

[tod2]

After renting an apartment twice in Paris we are going back to the hotel route this holiday.
The main reason for an apartment in our case was to buy the local produce and prepare several meals ourselves.
We never got to use the washing machine in one place, as leaving it unattended (after a repair)left us a bit wary. Besides, in both apartments there were other drawbacks. Example:
A musty smell in the rooms which were packed to the rafters with the owners personal effects.
I felt a bit claustrophobic in this basement but enjoyed the little garden it led into.
The second place was on a 4th floor no lift and spotless but teeny. Our neighbors were the problem being rowdy and drunk most of the time.

I will rent apartments again when I get the urge to try some more of that gorgeous produce from the open air markets!

[bjd]

You can still buy some produce and have picnics, Tod. When the weather is nice, there are always people picnicking in the gardens beside the Arsenal port (beside Bastille), and in parks, or just along the river.

[lagatta]

I had friends in Paris who OWNED a little flat and had a drunken, fighting couple living upstairs. Unfortunately, the sparring couple also owned their own flat.

My friends eventually moved, when they found something else affordable (upon selling the first place).

I don't really "cook" in Paris, except perhaps sautéeing some vegetables or fish; there is plenty of good food available from cheeses to prepared foods. But I hate having to eat out all the time, and not only because of the cost.