Five years ago, the city of Bordeaux put in place strict rules to curb the proliferation of seasonal rentals in favor of housing available year-round for residents. Five years later, our Bordeaux concierge service analyzes the figures relating to seasonal rentals in Bordeaux and draws up an initial assessment.
What are the AirBNB regulations in place in Bordeaux?
Bordeaux, an iconic city in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, is a popular travel destination for its rich history, stunning architecture, world-renowned food and wine culture, and lively and friendly annual events. In the 2010s, AirBNB arrived in France and the success was dazzling. The center of Bordeaux is not spared: "Unfair competition" for hoteliers, siphoning off of properties available for long-term rental in favor of overnight stays, price increases... Faced with these real problems and the ensuing dispute, the town hall decided, in 2018, to put in place anti-AirBNB regulations.
The aim was therefore to regulate seasonal rentals in order to prevent the city from losing control of the accommodation. Thus, the regulations put in place oblige owners to rent their property on AirBNB within a limit of 120 days per year. The platform automatically suspends advertisements once these 120 days have been reached and it will be necessary to wait until the following year to have the right to rent again. Owners also have the obligation to register their seasonal rental at the town hall to obtain a registration number. Thus, the town hall can guarantee traceability of seasonal rentals, avoid abuse and nuisance for the inhabitants of the city.
What is the assessment five years after the implementation of the anti-AirBNB regulations?
It is time to take stock of five years of anti-AirBNB regulations. Alexandra Schildknecht, director of our Bordeaux Concierge, notes “a real evolution, a real change around seasonal rentals in Bordeaux. At first glance, the regulations seem to have taken effect. Indeed, according to the town hall, around 4 homes have returned to the traditional rental market since the implementation of this measure. Our Bordeaux concierge presents the figures you need to know about these five years of AirBNB regulations for a first assessment.
Fewer vacation rentals on the AirBNB platform
First observation, the figures transmitted to the Sud-Ouest media by the AirDNA site show a trend that stands out: a significant drop in the number of entire properties offered for rent on Airbnb (-30% between 2019 and 2022). According to Alexandra Schildknecht, director of our Bordeaux concierge service, “seasonal rentals are developing on the outskirts of the city in favor of small apartments in the city center”. On the side of the town hall, the deputy in charge of housing, Stéphane Pfeiffer, confirms “a substantial fall, whatever the platforms. In 2018, there were between 9 and 000 ads. Today, there are 10 hosts registered on the tourist tax portal”.
The price of seasonal rentals in Bordeaux remains stable
Despite the decline in the number of accommodation units available for seasonal rental, prices have not changed so much in one direction or the other. Indeed, the average price of a night in Bordeaux was around 137 euros in 2019. After rising to 171 euros in 2021, it was 165 euros in 2022. “The city of Bordeaux is still one of the most popular destinations. requested throughout the year, explains Alexandra Schildknecht, director of our Bordeaux concierge service. The occupancy rate is high all year round with an average of 77%.
Thanks to AirBNB regulations, properties are back for rent
The town hall was therefore pleased to have recovered nearly 4 rental units year-round. Real estate professionals confirm, like Anthony Kevork, head of the Human real estate group in Bordeaux: we recover properties to rent from people discouraged by the measures taken against the platforms. These are all types of property (studio, T000, T2), but geographically, this concerns above all the historic center”. In 3, there were 2022% furnished apartments available for long-term rental compared to only 12 to 4% in 6, an increase of almost double in just three years.
Other owners of furnished tourist accommodation are choosing to sell, cooled by the new restrictions on seasonal rentals but also on long-term rentals, such as the cap on rents or the DPE (energy performance diagnostic score) which will prohibit the rental of housing whose ECD is classified as G in 2025 and those classified as F in 2028, which are therefore considered to be “thermal sieves”. According to Alexandra Schildknecht, director of our Bordeaux concierge service, "the supply of furnished accommodation for purchase has increased by 30% between 2021 and 2022".
AirBNB regulations, the only factor in such an evolution?
The figures therefore show that the regulations influence the market and have made it possible to regulate the supply of seasonal rentals. But is this the only factor to consider? Many observers believe that it is complicated to concretely measure the impact of anti-AirBNB regulations, particularly following the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has greatly disrupted the global tourist market, but also the various crises which followed. “These are indeed factors to take into account”, analyzes Alexandra Schildknecht, director of our Bordeaux concierge service.
Seasonal rentals in Bordeaux remain healthy
However, there is nothing to raise alarm bells. The anti-AirBNB regulations have made it possible to slightly regulate the rental market but without negatively influencing seasonal rentals. As proof, the sum donated to the city by AirBNB in respect of the tourist tax is increasing: 1,3 million euros in 2022, an increase of 48% compared to 2021. Bordeaux is therefore in fifth place. of the national ranking of cities having received the highest tourist tax in 2022. Owners of seasonal rentals therefore do not have to worry.
AirDNA figures for the last 12 months show that AirBNB has around 3 active listings for the city of Bordeaux. The average price per night is estimated at 000 euros and remains very stable, with a maximum amount of 108 euros in July and a minimum amount of 113 euros in January. "Seasonal rentals remain very popular in Bordeaux, especially in the city center," explains Alexandra Schildknecht, director of our Bordeaux concierge service. The market is moving in the right direction and should continue to regulate itself in the coming months”.
The long-term rental market, saved by anti-AirBNB regulations?
Finally, what can we say about long-term rental? Despite anti-AirBNB regulations and market regulation, this does not stop the strong rental tension that remains in Bordeaux. It has indeed increased by 48% between 2021 and 2022, still making it very complicated to find a year-round apartment for tenants. “It has no direct relationship with seasonal rentals, justifies Alexandra Schildknecht, director of our Bordeaux concierge service. Rentals correspond to 80% of demand, but only 20% of advertisements, and therefore of supply”.
Five years after the implementation of anti-AirBNB regulations in Bordeaux, the first assessment is rather positive. It shows that the long-term rental market has slightly rebalanced without jeopardizing the seasonal rental market, which still attracts many travelers during the year. Without necessarily revolutionizing everything, the AirBNB regulations have been able to frame and regulate the proliferation of tourist accommodation in Bordeaux. Despite everything, the traditional market is still experiencing strong rental tension due to stronger demand than the supply of housing on offer.
