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Airbnb ordered to pay 8 million euros to the City of Paris

2021-07-01T23:14:51.471Z


The town hall won its legal standoff against the seasonal rental platform which published ads without a registration number


“It is a resounding victory which puts an end to four years of impunity of Airbnb, rejoices Ian Brossat, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of Housing.

This is the first time in France that a community has won against a digital giant.

"By a judgment rendered this Thursday morning, the Paris court condemns in first instance the European management of the American seasonal rental giant - the company Airbnb Ireland - to a civil fine of 8.08 million euros for the benefit of the City of Paris.

The court finds the platform guilty of having published and kept online 1,010 advertisements without a registration number, a number issued by the Paris city hall and yet made compulsory since 2017. Since December 1, 2017, precisely, the date of entry into force. digital Republic law in France.

"Uncivil attitude"

In a long technical and reasoned judgment of 24 pages, the president of the court holds Airbnb responsible for hosting Airbnb and imposes a fine of 8,000 euros per advertisement for the rental of furnished tourist accommodation published illegally (amount capped by law at 12 500 euros per advertisement).

It highlights "the seriousness of the breach in question, its duration and its effects with regard to the general interest objective of combating the shortage of rental accommodation" in the capital.

Finally, the judgment pinpoints the “uncivil attitude” of the American platform “whose economic balance is based on the provision of housing by Parisians”.

The operator falls into line but considers the decision to be "contestable"

This judicial decision comes on the very day the platform announces that this number is mandatory for all its Parisian announcements.

"Airbnb has anticipated the court decision and wants to present as voluntary an approach actually constrained by justice," said Ian Brossat.

For him, this recognition by justice of the responsibility of the host is crucial.

“This means that it is up to the platform to clean up its ads itself and can prevent us from turning against each owner-lessor at fault.

"

The City employs 35 agents to check the conformity of some 30,000 Parisian advertisements online on the site.

For its part, Airbnb considers this judgment “questionable” and is studying “the possibility of appealing” within three months as permitted by law.

"The number of new registrations in the capital in April and May increased by 16% compared to the two previous months

(Editor's note: February and March)

 ", the platform still welcomes.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2021-07-01

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