Italy bans Airbnb key boxes for self-check-ins

Holiday rental hosts often lock keys in a box and send the code to their guests. Photo / 123rf

The locks have become a symbol of over-tourism – and now authorities argue that it is unsafe to let guests do self-check-in.

Italy is to crack down on short-term let platforms such as Airbnb by decreeing that property owners can no longer use metal key boxes as a means of allowing tourists to access rental apartments.

The Italian authorities have ruled that property owners must from now on meet their guests in person, rather than sending them a code via a smartphone that enables them to access keys kept in the little metal boxes.

The boxes, which are frequently secured to gates, posts, railings and window grates, have proliferated in recent years and have become a much-resented symbol of over-tourism in Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples and other cities.

The clampdown was announced on Tuesday by the interior ministry, which said that for reasons of national security, apartment owners must verify the identities of their guests in person rather than conduct the process remotely.

Vittorio Pisani, the national head of police, said that accommodation owners were now obliged to “verify the identity of guests by means of a visual check”.

The decree was issued owing to the “intensification of the phenomenon of so-called short-term rentals” such as Airbnb.

The crackdown would enable the authorities to keep tabs on “dangerous persons and/or persons linked to criminal or terrorist organisations”, he said.

Law change guarantees ‘positive experience’

Daniela Santanche, the tourism minister, said the change in the law would “prevent risk and guarantee a positive experience both for visitors and for accommodation operators”.

But the Italian Association of Short-Term Letters said the measure was “discriminatory” and would harm business.

There has been a boom in the number of short-term lets in Italy in recent years, particularly in Rome, which will host the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee celebrations, a year of special religious events that is expected to bring up to 30 million tourists to the capital next year.

The number of short-term lets and Airbnb-type apartments in the Eternal City has increased from 17,000 three years ago to about 35,000.

There has been a popular revolt in recent months against the burgeoning number of short-term lets.

In Rome, an anonymous group of activists sabotaged a few key boxes with wire-cutters and glue, leaving behind a green Robin Hood-style hat and a written notice that protested against over-tourism and gentrification.

The activists said that the number of short-term lets was out of control and was forcing ordinary families out of the city centre as landlords sought more lucrative returns from short-term stays.

‘Manage tourist numbers’

Last month, Florence announced that it wants to ban key boxes from the World Heritage-listed historic centre of the city.

Sara Funaro, the city’s new mayor, said she wanted to promote “a more sustainable model of tourism, manage tourist numbers and improve the quality of life for residents”.

Campaigners in Florence stuck red tape in the shape of a cross over dozens of key boxes, with the slogan “Salviamo Firenze per viverci”, which translates as “Let’s save Florence so we can live here”.

Airbnb criticised the Italian decree, insisting that allowing property owners to carry out check-ins and key handovers remotely, using key boxes and codes, did not present any security issues.

The short-term let company said that online identity verification was built into its system.

A spokesman for the company said: “Self-check-ins provide a convenient option for both hosts and guests to manage arrivals in a flexible way and adapt to occasional unexpected changes in travel plans. They’re used all around the world and, combined with our guest identity verification, they have also provided high security standards.

“We look forward to working with the Italian government on solutions that help address local safety concerns while meeting the needs of our hosts and guests community.”