Short-term rentals between individuals are becoming increasingly popular. Seasonal rentals in Chamonix are no exception! But rental platforms are cracking down and enforcing the legal limit of 120 nights per year. 18 towns are particularly concerned. Fortunately, Chamonix has escaped this restriction and is still very attractive. In this article, we take a look at the law governing short-term rentals and the new arrangements put in place by platforms such as AirBnB.
The popularity of holiday rentals in France
More and more travellers and private individuals are becoming attracted to holidays and seasonal rentals! And more and more property owners are entrusting their chalet, house or flat to holiday and rental management professionals such as Mana Homes. But the much-criticised (wrongly) is accused of significantly reducing the supply of accommodation available for traditional housing. They are also accused of driving up prices, competing unfairly with hoteliers, and so on. As proof of its good faith, the sector grouping together tourist rental platforms (such as AirBnB) has decided to penalise rentals that do not comply with the law in terms of the number of nights authorised for short-term rental. And so publishes a list of 18 cities where this level device applies since January 1, 2019.
The seasonal rental market in Chamonix
Fortunately, this restriction does not apply to towns such as Chamonix! In fact, this unfair competition is mainly criticised in large towns and cities, such as Paris, Nice, etc., that are under pressure. 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.
Chamonix Mont-Blanc is one of the most popular resorts in the Alps! All year round, it offers a multitude of outdoor sporting activities in an exceptional setting.
Chamonix boasts a number of must-see sites, including the Aiguille du Midi, accessible by one of the highest cable cars in the world. Or the astonishing Mer de glace, a 35km2 glacier accessible by the traditional Montenvers railway. These two sites are among the 5 most popular 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 so keen to rent holiday accommodation in Chamonix. The valley offers a wide range of sporting activities, including Mountain biking, paragliding, tobogganing (summer and winter), tree climbing, golf, horse riding, tennis, rafting, canoeing, spa, etc.
Proof of the popularity of holiday rentals in Chamonix in 2019 is that the Savoie-Mont-Blanc region was one of the 5 most popular departments in France! The region recorded a substantial annual number of overnight stays: 68.5 million! The accommodation on offer is dense. Nearly one bed in two 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 seasonal rental in Chamonix lucrative?
You bet! Choosing to rent out your chalet, flat or studio in Chamonix remains a highly profitable operation. It's one of France's most popular tourist destinations. Most of the accommodation on site (of all types) offers exceptional services. The clientele is predominantly from affluent backgrounds (CSP+), with a fairly high average spend on leisure activities. So, by offering competitively-priced holiday rentals in Chamonix make it easy to make your rental property profitable places!
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 for seasonal rental in Chamonix?
Legal framework for seasonal (or short-term) rentals in France and Chamonix!
As the owner of a property that can be let on an occasional basis, you are subject to the Tourism Code and the law on seasonal lets. This law governs the famous 120-day/year rental limit.
Your house/apartment is considered to be your principal residence if you live there for at least 8 months of the year. In other words, you can let your property for a maximum of 4 months of the year (4x 30 days = 120 days), hence the famous 120-night limit for seasonal lets in the case of a principal residence.
What about letting out a second home? A second home is defined as a property that is occupied occasionally during the year (for leisure, holidays, weekends, etc.). Even if you only want to rent out this property for a few weeks a year, you must register it with your local council as a furnished holiday home! In most of France, a simple declaration is enough.
Whether you rent out your main or holiday home in Chamonix, you must pay the local tourist tax. The platforms and professional holiday and property rental services such as Mana Homes will harvest it for you.
18 towns affected by the 120-night freeze on holiday lets
«The regulations in force are complex and often unfamiliar to landlords, because the law imposes different rules depending on your geographical location, the nature of the property and the length of the tenancy. Nevertheless, the risks of not complying with the regulations are now very real, with offenders liable to heavy fines.» (source: www.smartloc.fr)
The recent announcement by the rental imposing an automatic limit of 120 nights for non-professional hirers is therefore only a belated compliance with the law! Since 1 January 2019, rentals of principal residences in France that exceed the statutory threshold of 120 days per year will be blocked. Airbnb has published an initial list of 18 cities where the site is applying the scheme.. These include Paris, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Nîmes, Versailles and Nice.
Choose Mana Homes for your holiday rental in Chamonix
When it comes to holiday rentals in Chamonix, if you want to rent out your principal or secondary residence on an internet platform, make sure you comply with the regulations beforehand! If you don't, you could be exposed to considerable penalties. To take the hassle out of this, 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's the assurance of top-of-the-range concierge services.
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