Why Milan is cracking down on Airbnb key boxes

After Rome and Florence, the city of Milan has taken firm action against the proliferation of short-term tourist rentals by banning this week the black boxes containing the keys to apartments rented through platforms like Airbnb.

This ban directly targets a crucial detail of the logistics of customer arrival, as the fine for possessing one of these boxes ranges from 100 to 400 euros.

The municipality officially justifies this decision as a way to regulate the market, and less credibly as a measure to combat drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, Milan has decided to extend the tourist tax in anticipation of the Winter Olympics, which will take place in the north of the country in a few days, seeking to maximize revenue from the influx of visitors.

These measures are part of a stricter national regulatory framework: just a year ago, landlords could operate without meeting the tenant, but national law now mandates a face-to-face meeting upon arrival.

Furthermore, new regulations for housing agencies have reinforced the obligation for the landlord or their representative to be physically present.

Italy had already banned online registration for apartment rentals on these platforms until the end of 2024 for security reasons, now requiring this physical contact.