Airbnb rentals and legislation on the Basque Coast: what changes in 2020

Do you own a property for rent in the Basque Country? The year 2020 brings changes for you, just as it does for rental property owners in the area around Disneyland Paris. It is time to take a closer look at this new legislation you need to follow.

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New requirements

According to the regulations passed by the Basque Country Agglomeration Community Council last September, renting out furnished tourist accommodations is subject to new conditions, effective as of January 1, 2020. This is a way to address the shortage of year-round housing faced by new residents of the Basque coast.

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The municipalities involved are: Ahetze, Anglet, Arbonne, Arcangues, Ascain, Bassussarry, Bayonne, Biarritz, Bidart, Biriatou, Boucau, Ciboure, Guéthary, Hendaye, Jatxou, Lahonce, Larressore, Mouguerre, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Saint-Pierre d’Irube, Urcuit, Urrugne, Ustaritz, and Villefranque. These 24 towns primarily aim to regulate the growth of short-term rentals. In total, more than 8,000 properties are affected!

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Who is affected?

Owners of secondary residences for rent must apply for a temporary change-of-use permit when registering their furnished property with the town hall. However, if you have already been declaring your property to your municipality for several years, you have an additional one-year grace period to submit this request. Another detail: for now, only individuals are affected. Primary residences, whether rented in their entirety or not, are not subject to this new regulation.

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Furthermore, the number of permits per person is limited and may vary by town. Indeed, there are three distinct zones:

• Zone 1 > Known as a high-tension area, it includes Anglet, Biarritz, Bidart, Guéthary, Ciboure, Urrugne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Hendaye. The number of permits is limited to one per owner.

• Zone 2 > This is considered a moderate-tension area. It includes Ascain, Ahetze, Arbonne, Arcangues, Bassussarry, and Bayonne, and allows for two permits per individual.

• Zone 3 > Known as a low-tension area, the final zone consists of the following municipalities: Jatxou, St-Pierre-d’Irube, Mouguerre, Lahonce, Villefranque, Urcuit, Ustaritz, Larressore, Biriatou, and Boucau. In these towns, the number of permits is unlimited.

This clear delineation may still leave some doubt if you own multiple properties in different municipalities. If you still have questions, do not hesitate to check the specific terms that apply to each town. For more information, you can also contact the Housing and City Policy Department of the Basque Country Agglomeration Community at 05 59 44 72 72 or by sending an email to: habitat@communaute-paysbasque.fr.

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Welkeys is here to help

At Welkeys, we help you find the best solution for renting and managing your property. Our sales team will provide you with expert, personalized advice regarding both the legislation in force in your region and our services.