On 26 May 2026 the municipality of Florence voted to widen its pioneering ban on new short-term tourist lets, such as Airbnb, from the UNESCO-listed historic centre to several surrounding districts. The move adds roughly 67,000 dwellings to the exclusion zone, bringing the total to more than 100,000 residential units city-wide. Mayor Sara Funaro described the step as a “national first” in the fight against overtourism and housing shortages.
![Florence Extends Short-Term Rental Ban Beyond UNESCO Centre, Shaping Expat Housing Market]()
Meanwhile, securing the right paperwork to live or work in Italy is just as important as finding a flat. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) simplifies applications for Italian work, study and business visas, offering step-by-step guidance and concierge support—useful for assignees suddenly adjusting move-in dates because of Florence’s new rental limits.
The original 2023 ordinance had already frozen new holiday lets in the historic core, where foreign demand pushed rents beyond the reach of local families and international students alike. Under the expanded policy, neighbourhoods such as San Jacopino, Statuto and parts of Oltrarno will now be off-limits for new tourist conversions. Existing hosts keep their licences until 31 May 2028, after which a new authorisation system could pare numbers back further. For multinationals relocating staff to Tuscany’s capital, the decision has immediate implications for housing availability and cost. While the ban aims to free up long-term stock, analysts expect a short-term scramble as investors redirect inventory toward corporate and student rentals—segments exempt from the prohibition if leases exceed 30 days. HR teams should budget for rising deposits and earlier property searches, especially for summer arrivals when demand peaks. Real-estate lawyers note that other Italian cities—Rome, Milan and Venice among them—are watching Florence closely and may replicate the model if it withstands expected court challenges from property-owner associations. A nationwide framework for regulating platform rentals is pending in Parliament but has been delayed amid lobbying from both hospitality and tenant groups. International assignees planning short project stints of under one month could face limited legal options for furnished stays within city limits and may need to commute from neighbouring municipalities such as Prato or Empoli. Companies are therefore advised to review travel policies to include reimbursement for longer leases or serviced-apartment alternatives compliant with the new rules.
Meanwhile, securing the right paperwork to live or work in Italy is just as important as finding a flat. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) simplifies applications for Italian work, study and business visas, offering step-by-step guidance and concierge support—useful for assignees suddenly adjusting move-in dates because of Florence’s new rental limits.
The original 2023 ordinance had already frozen new holiday lets in the historic core, where foreign demand pushed rents beyond the reach of local families and international students alike. Under the expanded policy, neighbourhoods such as San Jacopino, Statuto and parts of Oltrarno will now be off-limits for new tourist conversions. Existing hosts keep their licences until 31 May 2028, after which a new authorisation system could pare numbers back further. For multinationals relocating staff to Tuscany’s capital, the decision has immediate implications for housing availability and cost. While the ban aims to free up long-term stock, analysts expect a short-term scramble as investors redirect inventory toward corporate and student rentals—segments exempt from the prohibition if leases exceed 30 days. HR teams should budget for rising deposits and earlier property searches, especially for summer arrivals when demand peaks. Real-estate lawyers note that other Italian cities—Rome, Milan and Venice among them—are watching Florence closely and may replicate the model if it withstands expected court challenges from property-owner associations. A nationwide framework for regulating platform rentals is pending in Parliament but has been delayed amid lobbying from both hospitality and tenant groups. International assignees planning short project stints of under one month could face limited legal options for furnished stays within city limits and may need to commute from neighbouring municipalities such as Prato or Empoli. Companies are therefore advised to review travel policies to include reimbursement for longer leases or serviced-apartment alternatives compliant with the new rules.
