Short-term rentals between individuals are becoming increasingly popular. Seasonal rental in Chamonix is no exception! But rental platforms are cracking down and enforcing the legal limit of 120 nights/year. 18 towns are particularly concerned. Fortunately, Chamonix escapes this restriction and still benefits from a strong attractiveness. In this article, we look at the law governing short-term rentals and the new system put in place by platforms such as AirBnB.
The popularity of holiday rentals in France
More and more travellers and individuals are being attracted to holiday rentals! And more and more property owners are entrusting their chalet, house or flat to professional holiday and rental management companies such as Mana Homes. But the much maligned (and wrongly so) business is accused of significantly reducing the supply of accommodation available for traditional housing. It is also accused of driving up prices, of being unfair competition to hoteliers, etc. As a proof of its good faith, the sector regrouping tourist rental platforms (such as AirBnB) has decided to sanction rentals that do not respect the law regarding the number of nights allowed for short-term rentals. And so publishes a list of 18 cities where this level of device applies since 1 January 2019.
The seasonal rental market in Chamonix
Fortunately, this restriction does not apply to towns such as Chamonix! Indeed, this unfair competition is mainly criticised in large cities, such as Paris, Nice, etc. Chamonix is traditionally a holiday destination with a high proportion of second homes! The Savoie-Mont-Blanc region has a strong tourist appeal. Seasonal rentals in Chamonix therefore benefit from less stringent restrictions.
Indeed, Chamonix Mont-Blanc is one of the most popular resorts in the Alps! It offers a multitude of outdoor sports activities all year round in an exceptional setting.
Chamonix has some unmissable sites such as the Aiguille du Midi, accessible by one of the highest cable cars in the world. Or the astonishing Mer de glace, a 35 km2 glacier, accessible by the traditional Montenvers railway. These two places are also among the 5 most popular sites in the Savoie-Mont-Blanc region accessible by cable car in 2019 (source pro.savoie-mont-blanc.com).
Chamonix is also the starting point for medium and high mountain hikes. This explains why French and foreign tourists are keen to find holiday accommodation in Chamonix. The valley offers numerous sporting activities such as mountain biking, paragliding, sledging (summer and winter), accrobranche, golf, horse riding, tennis, rafting, canoeing, spa, etc.
Proof of the popularity of holiday rentals in Chamonix in 2019: the Savoie-Mont-Blanc region was one of the 5 most popular departments in France! The region recorded a significant number of overnight stays per year: 68.5 million! The accommodation offer is dense. Nearly one out of two beds is dedicated to short term rental or tourism. (The region is the leading destination in terms of accommodation with 49% of tourist beds)! Seasonal rental in Chamonix” still has a great future ahead of it!
Is holiday rental in Chamonix lucrative?
That’s right! Choosing to rent out your chalet, flat or studio in Chamonix is a very profitable operation. Indeed, it is a very popular French tourist destination. Most of the accommodation on site (all types) offers exceptional services. The clientele is mainly from the wealthy classes (CSP+) with an average basket dedicated to leisure activities that is quite high. Therefore, by offering a seasonal rental in Chamonix at an adapted but competitive price, it will be easy to make the rental of the premises profitable!
Remember: Chamonix is not (for the moment) one of the towns affected by the restrictions imposed by AirBnB! What if you chose to invest in a property dedicated to seasonal rental in Chamonix?
Legal framework for seasonal (or short term) rental in France and in Chamonix!
As the owner of a property that can be rented on an occasional basis, you are subject to the Tourism Code and the law on seasonal rentals. This law regulates the famous 120-day/year rental limit.
Your house/apartment is considered your main residence if you live there for at least 8 months of the year. This means that you can rent out your property for a maximum of 4 months out of the year (4x 30 days = 120 days), hence the famous 120-night limit for seasonal rentals in the context of a principal residence.
What about letting out a secondary residence? The definition of a secondary residence indicates that it is a property occupied occasionally during the year (for leisure, holidays, weekends, etc.). Even if you only wish to rent out this property for a few weeks a year, you must declare it to your local council as a furnished tourist home! In most of the country, a simple declaration is sufficient.
Whether you rent out your primary or secondary residence in Chamonix, you must pay the tourist tax to your local council. The platforms and professionals of stays and property rental such as Mana Homes are in charge of collecting it for you.
18 cities affected by the 120-night block on holiday rentals
“The regulations in force are complex and often unfamiliar to landlords, as the law imposes different rules depending on your geographical location, the nature of the accommodation and the duration of the tenancy. Nevertheless, the risks of not complying with the regulations are now very real, with offenders facing heavy fines.” (source: www.smartloc.fr)
The recent announcement by rental platforms imposing an automatic 120-night limit for non-professional renters is therefore only a belated compliance with the law! As of 1 January 2019, rentals of primary residences in France that exceed the legal threshold of 120 days per year will be blocked. Airbnb has published an initial list of 18 cities where the site is applying this measure. These include Paris, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Nîmes, Versailles and Nice.
Choose Mana Homes for your holiday rental in Chamonix
If you want to rent out your primary or secondary residence on an internet platform, make sure you respect the regulations! If you don’t, you could be exposed to considerable penalties. To get rid of this constraint, call on the expertise of professionals! Mana Homes can manage the rental of your property for you. But also its upkeep and maintenance. For travellers, it is the assurance of high quality services and concierge services.
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