Short-term lettings: a 30 per cent cap is set to come into force in Naples from December

The 30 per cent cap on short-term lets in certain neighbourhoods of the historic centrein Naples will not come into effect immediately. First, implementing regulations are needed: the administration’s aim is to bring them before the council in October, so that the measure can come into force from December. In the meantime, however, there is a risk that a rush to set up new short-term lettings will begin, in order to circumvent the restrictions.

The planning amendment recently approved by Naples City Council is based on two key elements designed to limit this type of tenancy: the obligation to changethe designated use, changing it to A/2 (accommodation for tourist use), and the restriction stipulating that, in the building where the short-term let flat is situated, the floor area allocated to this purpose may not exceed 30 per cent. The section relating to changes of use comes into force immediately, whilst the provision on the 30 per cent cap requires implementing regulations.

The text will need to set out the operational details of the platform that will enable the space designated for short-term lets to be made available. In practice, when the SCIA application for a change of use is submitted to the one-stop shop for building permits, it will be linked to to the SUAP and will allow you to check whether there is sufficient free floor space in your building to ensure you do not exceed the 30 per cent limit. After thirty days (the period within which the local authority may block the SCIA), the change becomes final and the floor space allocated to short-term lettings will be committed.

The deputy mayor and councillor for Urban Planning, Laura Lieto, explains the work currently underway: ‘The digital platform is nearing completion; we will implement it in accordance with guidelines approved by the City Council. Users will be able to register on the platform, where the procedures for applying for changes to vertical and horizontal land-use designations will be made available. The platform will also enable real-time, proactive checks on the capacity of individual buildings and will clarify specific cases relating to the saturation of the threshold. Furthermore, the platform will serve as a tool for administrative transparency and will guarantee public access to information.”

The area already allocated in the past will be measured against the new limits: therefore, if a building exceeds the limit, the application cannot be submitted. It is precisely here, however, that one of the problems of the coming weeks arises. The risk is that, during this transitional phase, there will be a rise in applications for changes of use aimed at tying up available floor areas. Although the local council reserves the right to carry out more rigorous checks should there be a suspicious increase in SCIA applications.