Airbnb law: On the island of Batz, “no one who works here can afford a house anymore”

Deputies and senators agreed on Tuesday October 29 in a joint committee on a common version of the so-called “Airbnb” bill. The text which aims to better regulate the furnished tourist marketnotably supported by the MP (Renaissance) for Quimper Annaïg Le Meur, must be definitively adopted this week. “A good first step, even if we could have gone further”estimates the mayor of Île-de-Batz, Eric Grall.

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In this small island town, the two thirds of the 750 homes are second homes. They concentrate almost all real estate transactions, and cause prices to skyrocket. “There are properties worth 700 or 800,000 euros and it continues to rise. We are in a situation where no one who works on the island of Batz can afford a house anymore, unless they have family on the island which is increasingly rare”deplores the elected official.

A surcharge for second residents

The municipality has just increased the municipal share of the housing tax by 60% for second residents. Nothing to discourage buyers, but the revenue estimated at 85,000 euros per year will be used to create social housing for residents all year round. “Overall, I have had little negative feedback because their interest is also to have an island that livesspecifies Eric Grall. Having a second home on a dead island, without business part of the year, with restaurants that have difficulty recruiting staff, that's not what they want.”

Batz is not overwhelmed with tourist accommodation. By browsing the Airbnb platform, we count 40 accommodations, or 8% of second homes. But that’s as many fewer homes for the islanders, insists the mayor: “There would be potential for year-round rental of accommodation, but that is cannibalized by the financial and tax interest currently allowed for those who decide to rent to tourists.”

Tax benefits that the legislator will reduce, but without eliminating them.