A woman says she has lost her primary source of income after a squatter disguised as a tourist occupied her property in Florence, exploiting the city’s booming short-term rental market. The squatter initially booked the apartment for three days via Airbnb, but has now been living there for eight months without paying rent.
Maria, the property owner, shared her ordeal with Corriere Fiorentino, explaining that the woman, approximately 40 years old, has taken up residence with her son, dog, and cat. Despite Maria’s repeated attempts to reclaim her property, her efforts have been in vain, even after reporting the situation to the authorities.
Adding to the frustration, Maria continues to shoulder the financial burden, paying utility bills and taxes on the apartment while receiving no rental income. She has filed a lawsuit against the squatter, but the legal process is slow; the first hearing is scheduled for March of next year.
This case highlights a troubling aspect of overtourism in Florence, a city that has increasingly relied on short-term rental platforms to accommodate the influx of visitors. While tourism remains vital to Florence’s economy, it has also exacerbated housing challenges for locals. Many properties in the city center have been converted into vacation rentals, often pushing residents out and inflating housing costs.
Maria’s experience underscores the precarious balance between fostering tourism and maintaining the rights of property owners and residents. With overtourism already straining Florence’s infrastructure, incidents like these reflect the broader challenges of regulating short-term rentals and protecting homeowners.
As Florence grapples with the impacts of overtourism, cases like Maria’s reveal the unintended consequences of unregulated tourism-driven markets. The city may need to reevaluate its policies on short-term rentals to prevent similar situations in the future while ensuring a sustainable balance for both residents and tourists.