A Bari, tra B&B e fiction, la casa è introvabile anche per il ceto medio

The article “A Bari, tra B&B e fiction, la casa è introvabile anche per il ceto medio”, authored by Paolo M. Alfieri and published by the Italian daily Avvenire, examines the deepening housing crisis in Bari, Southern Italy. It combines on‑the‑ground testimonies, notably from Anna, a local family facing eviction, with statistical data from Idealista, Ifel, and academic projects, to illustrate how rising rents and a surge in short‑term rentals are displacing middle‑class residents.

Anna and her husband, an operative and a beautician, have been forced to leave a home they have lived in for a decade after the landlord refused to renew their lease. Their previous rent of €600 for a 70 m² flat has doubled to approximately €1 200, consuming nearly the entire household income. Similar cases are reported across neighbourhoods such as San Pasquale, Carrassi and Japigia, where families encounter transient contracts and unaffordable prices, leading to demoralisation and continued housing searches.

In the second quarter of 2026, Idealista recorded an average rent of €12.6 per square metre in Bari. Rental contracts fell from 2 173 in 2018 to 1 758 in 2024, indicating reduced supply and higher prices. The municipal administration confirmed 1 074 evictions in 2024, a 19 % increase over the previous year, largely due to arrears. Short‑term rentals have exploded: Airbnb listings rose from under 80 000 nights to over half a million in seven years, with the number of apartments increasing threefold to about 4 500.

The local government, represented by Housing Emergency assessor Nicola Grasso, has introduced measures such as rent bonuses, agreed‑rent incentives, a fund for non‑fault arrears, and support for young couples. A regional law, pending final approval, would allow municipalities to cap or prohibit new short‑term rentals in high‑tourism zones, though recent amendments limit restrictions to commercial operators, preserving private owners who rent up to two units. Grasso stresses the need for data‑driven targeting of pressure‑laden districts while safeguarding the constitutional right to housing.

Public housing remains insufficient: roughly 1 800 eligible families in Bari risk remaining unserved, even after raising ISEE thresholds. Investment in social housing and national policies are deemed essential. Local Catholic organisations, such as Caritas Bari‑Bitonto and its micro‑credit scheme “Mi fido di noi”, provide counselling and financial support to families at risk of eviction.

The article mentions rent‑to‑buy schemes as a still‑rare alternative in Italy, offering tenants the option to convert a lease into ownership. Community‑based actions, including the “bonus affitti” and guarantee funds for landlords, aim to stimulate the return of vacant apartments to the market.

Bari’s experience reflects a wider European challenge where tourism‑driven economies intensify housing scarcity, undermining social cohesion and sustainability. The data underscore the necessity of balanced urban policies that protect affordable long‑term housing while managing tourism growth, aligning with EU objectives for inclusive, sustainable cities.