Checking Into Your Dream Italian Airbnb Will Be Harder Next Year

10.12.2024 - 21:46 / matadornetwork.com / Roberto Gualtieri

One of the many benefits of opting for an Airbnb over a hotel is remote check-ins. The lockbox check-in has become common practice at most rental properties due to its convenience for the guest and host. It means you don’t need to fix an arrival time or make small talk after a long journey. In some cases, you never meet your host, leaving you in peace to relax on vacation. Last month, however, the landscape of short-term rentals changed in Italy due to backlash against the market by local residents and new regulations put in place by the government to verify guests’ identities. You must now meet your hosts on arrival to receive a key in person and fill out information to share with the government for bookings on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.

Italian cities have faced increasing backlash against the rise of Airbnb rentals, with residents citing concerns over disrupted neighborhoods and inflated housing costs. In recent months, protests in cities like Rome, Florence, and Milan have involved vandalism against rental properties. In many cases, key boxes have been damaged, increasing the tension between locals and short-term rental operators.

In a public statement, the Italian Interior Ministry says the ban on key boxes is due to “public order” and “safety risks.”

Italy banned key boxes and keypads for all short-term tourist accommodations, effective November 18. However, according to the Italian press, property owners were not immediately informed of the changes. That said, it’s likely that next year if you’re visiting Italy, your host will greet you in person.

Guests will also need to provide paperwork to confirm their identity. The rental’s owner must send personal details such as your home address, phone number, date of birth, and a copy of identity documents to the Italian police authorities within 24 hours of your arrival.

EuroNews reports Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri hailed the ban as “good news for everyone,” celebrating the end of “the padlocks and boxes that disfigure our streets and prevent adequate security checks.”

The ban comes in as Rome braces itself for a huge influx of visitors for the upcoming 2025 Jubilee, a prominent Catholic event that begins on December 24, 2024.

According to the New York Post, Airbnb has expressed its commitment to safety and is working with the Italian government to find solutions that balance local concerns with the needs of hosts and guests.

The government has also recently introduced a tourism cap to save the famous town of Pompeii from destruction, as well as a tourism tax and ban on cruise ships in Venice.