The crackdown on key boxes reflects a broader trend among cities to regulate short-term rentals and address housing shortages for residents.
Marseille's approach aligns with similar actions taken by other cities in France, indicating a nationwide concern over the impact of Airbnb on local housing markets.
The city’s regulations not only target key boxes but also aim to ensure that tourist rentals do not hinder local residents' access to affordable housing.
As the city enforces these regulations, it may lead to a decrease in the number of short-term rentals available in Marseille, potentially impacting tourism.
Other cities facing similar issues may adopt Marseille's approach, leading to a wider trend of regulation on short-term rentals across France.
Marseille's City Hall has initiated a campaign to remove key boxes used for Airbnb and other short-term rentals from public spaces. The move aims to regulate the increasing number of tourist rentals in the city, which surged by 45% in 2023, totaling 13,000 properties. Owners of these key boxes have been given a 15-day notice to comply with the new regulations, after which city services will remove the boxes, which will be stored in the lost and found for collection. The city has previously implemented regulations requiring a change of use request for non-primary residence rentals and established a control brigade to monitor compliance.
