Paris (AFP)

Airbnb announced Monday to subscribe in part to the commitments requested by associations of elected officials, local authorities and metropolises, so that the activity of tourist rental platforms between individuals is more transparent.

Friday, the Ministry of Housing called on platforms and their federations to "commit to the implementation" of a "roadmap" which establishes "the expectations of the State and communities", and sets a " joint work program "between the State, 7 associations of local authorities and 30 towns, cities and metropolises.

As a result, Airbnb announces that it will provide partial "guarantees": thus the platform will ensure that announcements of "entire apartments rented for short periods are registered with local authorities in" Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux "from April or June, then the second semester in Lille, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse, said a press release.

However, "medium and long term" rentals can still be booked, even if the accommodation does not have a registration number.

The platform will also allow cities to find on an "online counter", "data on the activity of furnished tourist rentals, the collection of tourist tax" and report problematic announcements.

Airbnb also indicates, without concrete commitment, its intention to "support the government" in its desire to allow cities to "compare more easily the data shared" by the platforms.

If all platforms play the game, it will allow authorities to verify that owners do not exceed the limit of 120 rental days per year imposed on primary residences.

Finally, a "new telephone line" allowing neighbors to "report any nuisance" will be launched in the second half of the year.

According to the platform, the owners having "welcomed their first travelers since the start of the pandemic" have benefited from "additional income of 125 million euros".

© 2021 AFP