The advertisement is still posted on the Airbnb platform, but the owner of this apartment located in a villa in the heart of Biarritz, warned that "given the regulations," they would no longer rent their property to tourists on a nightly basis but only on a "mobility lease." This means a one-month minimum for those traveling for professional training sessions or work transfers. Maria (her name has been changed), who runs a small concierge service, handles the key transfers and cleaning of this furnished rental and is already seeing the effects of the new rules imposed in the Basque Country. "I was managing 12 seasonal rentals, now I only have four," she said.

Faced with an explosion in the number of secondary residences and Airbnb-type rentals, which are responsible for the skyrocketing real estate prices, the Basque Country has adopted very restrictive regulations to return housing to the residents who live and work there year-round. Since March 1, 2023, this regulation requires landlords in so-called "tense" areas (24 municipalities, including Biarritz) to obtain a "change of use" authorization and adhere to the principle of compensation.

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