The holiday rental market - France

French legislation defines seasonal rental as "the rental of a property for a maximum, non-renewable period of ninety consecutive days" . The market brings together the various platforms that enable people to rent a property for a short period of time, usually between private individuals, and concerns different types of accommodation : houses, villas, apartments, rooms or even bungalows and caravans. The global market is growing fast, and is catching up with revenue levels generated by the hotel industry. France is Europe's second-largest market for holiday rentals, and this type of accommodation is becoming increasingly popular with the French. As a tourist destination, the French market was particularly dynamic before the emergence of the pandemic, and was also driven by local customers. Since 2020, the nature of the market has changed considerably, with the absence of international clientele and the search for "nature" becoming enduring market trends. Competition is intense between professional players in the hotel industry and private individuals using a platform to rent out their property. The legislative framework is also decisive for the sector's future growth, with the number of Airbnb ads in Lyon, for example, dropping by 59% in the two years between 2021 and 2023 due to restrictive measures introduced by the city[BFM TV]. Nevertheless, the overall trend is towards recovery across the country with the return of international tourists. The market is driven by demand for CtoC rentals rather than hotels.