Bordeaux creates new Airbnb hit squad

Bordeaux mairie is stepping up its crackdown on Airbnb rentals with the creation of a special monitoring unit.

On any given day there are around 8,000 Airbnb listings in Bordeaux and, mainly for small flats, the city has worked out they make up around 5% of the total available.

Increased disruption from the rentals has already led to residents leaving some areas of the city centre.

It comes as the city increased the tax on second homes in Bordeaux from 20% to 50% in a new bid to encourage owners to rent flats year-round and offer much-needed homes.

Since March 1, city owners wanting to rent out via Airbnb or other online agencies, must register at the mairie.

They can rent for no more than 120 days a year or be classed as tourism professionals and made to meet registration and other costs as for hotels.