Short-term lettings: the crackdown is also taking hold in Rome

In Rome too the crackdown begins on short-term lettings. This follows on from the new technical regulations implementing the General Development Plan, which have just been approved by the City Council, following a proposal from the Department of Urban Planning. Following the example of what has already happened in other cities, starting Florence and Bologna: distinct urban planning categories, limited or prohibited changes of use in certain areas and, in the future, further restrictions to come under a specific regulation.

It should be emphasised that the text addresses many issues through amendments to 67 regulations, more than half of those currently in force: access to housing, suburbs, regeneration, and the protection of historic heritage. However, several amendments specifically address the uncontrolled growth of tourist rentals in the city. Although, as Mayor Roberto Gualtieri pointed out, this issue requires ‘a more solid legal basis, which we continue to call for from the Lazio Region and the Government’. Moreover, ANCI has also been calling for a national law for some time.

Looking through the list of changes, the City Council’s policy intent is very clear. In fact, a new special residential zoning category (A/3, accommodation for tourist use) is being introduced for tourist accommodation. This is a tool already used in other areas, such as Bologna, to keep the phenomenon under closer control and regulate it, for example by preventing certain properties that do not meet the necessary criteria from being classified under this specific designation.

In this context, a ban on changing the use from non-residential to A/3 (namely, the new zoning category designated for accommodation purposes) within the UNESCO zone. The aim is to prevent the historic centre from gradually losing all its functions, as has happened in other Italian and foreign cities, to the sole benefit of short-term rentals. In addition, various surcharges and restrictions will be applied to changes of use to accommodation properties, starting with the payment of an extraordinary urbanisation levy.

Above all, however, future regulations are being announced, through which ‘changes of use or the establishment of specific activities’ will be restricted, with particular regard, amongst other things, to accommodation for visitors. This is the framework within which Rome, too, will be able to draw up its own regulations on the matter: the administration has already been working for months on possible solutions to be included in the legislation.