Ten million empty houses fuel the short-term rental market
The phenomenon of empty houses drives short-term rentals: an analysis of short-term rentals in Italy
2' min read
2' min read
The phenomenon of empty houses (almost ten million in Italy) is driving short-term rentals. In many areas of the country, in fact, the short-term rental tool is a response to depopulation and the current dramatically negative demographic trends. This is explained by the Aigab study centre (Italian Association of Short Term Rentals), which has analysed the trend of online advertisements of real estate units offered through the Airbnb portal. In the numbers are considered - it should be specified - only non-dormant ads, those therefore that have taken at least one booking in the last twelve months..
Spring growth
In general, at a national level, the average increase in online listings is 13% between March 2023 (453,000 online listings) and March 2024 (510,000 online listings), with some regions standing out in terms of the increase in supply (Lombardy, Lazio and Campania) and others where the number of homes promoted online has remained essentially unchanged (Valle d'Aosta, Sardinia and Sicily).
"These increases in the number of properties promoted online for the purpose of earning income through short-term rentals," explains the Study Centre, "hardly affect the percentage of vacant properties, which nationally exceeds 27% of the total, or 9.6 million empty homes (out of 25 million existing homes), with worrying peaks such as 56% in Valle d'Aosta or 45% in Molise and 42% in Calabria.
Rural areas set aside for income
It is also interesting to note that - continues the Study Centre - "the overall weight of properties promoted online for the purpose of earning income through short rentals does not reach 1.45% of the national average, having the highest penetration at regional level in rural areas of Sardinia, Tuscany, Liguria, Val d'Aosta and Trentino, which are also those with the highest incidence of unoccupied properties". There is, therefore, a trend to rent houses online in areas that people live in less and less. Although, on the other hand, it is clear that the phenomenon of short rentals also concerns properties located in the centre of large cities.
