Short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb are increasingly fueling neighborhood disputes in French condominiums, as residents complain of late-night arrivals, noisy travelers, and confusion with key boxes and door codes.
The issue came to a head in Montévrain, near Disneyland Paris, where co-owners asked their property manager to act against three neighbors renting furnished apartments up to 120 days a year without municipal authorization.
Although the condominium rules did not explicitly forbid such rentals, residents argued they created disturbances.
The building’s syndic consulted lawyer Stanislas De Jorna, who advised legal action on two grounds: the ban on “commercial activity” under condominium regulations, and the principle of “abnormal neighborhood disturbance” established by case law and later enshrined in law.
The case highlights growing tensions in France over para-hotel activity in residential buildings, as courts and municipalities grapple with balancing property rights, tourism demand, and the protection of community life.