The local government has banned the famous, unsightly keyboxes, and by extension self-check-in in Florence, forcing owners of short-term rental accommodation to remove them by 25 February.
Airbnb accommodation owners are increasingly using the famous electronic locks with digital codes (keyboxes), which allow property owners and holidaymakers to save time by not having to meet to hand over keys and complete check-in procedures.
However, critics argue that the keyboxes are unsightly, and check-in without a physical meeting between guest and renter is a security risk in the Italian Renaissance town.
“Next week we will carry out checks and in the accommodations where the keyboxes have not been removed we will remove them,” Florence mayor Sara Funaro told a local TV channel.
According to the city council’s decision, owners of non-compliant accommodation will be fined up to 400 euros.
Massimo Torelli, head of the “Save Florence” group and spokesman for the “Let’s save Florence to live in Florence” campaign, said that his group has painted the check-in boxes with a red cross in a symbolic form of protest.
“They are everywhere, on bicycle racks and on lampposts on the streets … Florence is dying from uncontrolled tourism,” he said.
However, he said he was pleased that the municipality had finally taken action and expressed the desire to see the number of accommodations reserved for short-stay visitors reduced from the current 15,000 to 7,000-8,000, thus freeing up accommodation for Florence’s permanent residents.
Other famous Italian tourist destinations, such as Rome and Venice, have also taken steps to limit the number of tourists, as locals complain about the lack of affordable accommodation and hoteliers claim that short-term rentals are hurting their business.
The Italian government of Giorgia Meloni, has already introduced a national regulation banning check-in without visual identification of guests.
