A bunch of 26 French hoteliers is taking authorized motion towards Airbnb. The lawyer representing them, Jonathan Bellaiche, filed the summons on Monday, June 17, 2024, on the Lisieux business court docket in Calvados. The inns concerned within the collective motion are positioned in numerous French areas, excluding Ile-de-France. Cities akin to Good, Strasbourg, Cannes, Avignon, Biarritz, Limoges, and Mâcon are represented.
In a groundbreaking transfer, the French hoteliers accuse Airbnb of unfair competitors for the primary time. Their lawyer, Jonathan Bellaiche, asserts that the platform’s enterprise practices are detrimental to all French hoteliers. Searching for 9.2 million in damages for the plaintiffs, the founding father of the Goldwin agency argues that that is probably the most viable path to reparations. Airbnb, recognized for resisting restrictive laws in France and Europe, is about to face this distinctive authorized problem. The listening to is scheduled for September 6, 2024, on the Lisieux Industrial Courtroom.
Hoteliers imagine that the platform wants to satisfy its obligations. As an illustration, the main seasonal rental firm doesn’t all the time show the required registration quantity for commercials in sure cities. A lawyer said that the platform just isn’t adequately monitoring its content material and is chargeable for unlawful commercials, notably because it has been acknowledged as a “content material writer” in a judgment by the Paris Judicial Courtroom dated June 5, 2020.
“We’re conscious that many individuals are renting their flats with out authorization, to the detriment of their landlords,” the lawyer said. Mr. Jonathan Bellaiche not too long ago compelled Airbnb to supply property possession paperwork to establish unlawful sublets.
“We don’t oppose these platforms,” said Véronique Siegel, president of Umih Hôtellerie. “Nevertheless, the ramifications of not complying with French regulation lengthen past unfair competitors with the resort trade. The platform contributes to finish deregulation of the rental market and exacerbates the housing disaster.”
