Affitti brevi, Confedilizia pronta al ricorso al Tar

The piece, titled “Affitti brevi, Confedilizia pronta al ricorso al Tar,” is a feature article published by Il Resto del Carlino, a prominent newspaper based in Bologna, Italy. It is authored by Francesco Moroni, a journalist covering local politics and social issues. The article examines the ongoing debate in Bologna over short‑term rentals, focusing on the perspective of landlords’ organisations such as Ape Confedilizia and Confedilizia Emilia Romagna, as well as the reactions of Confcommercio Ascom.

Bologna’s municipal government has introduced restrictions on short‑term rentals, limiting them to apartments of at least 50 m² and imposing higher tourist taxes (from €5 to €7 per night). The mayor, Matteo Lepore, is criticised by landlord representatives for these policies, which they argue raise housing costs and use “ethics” as a pretext to mask administrative shortcomings.

According to a study cited by Confedilizia Emilia Romagna, only 1.3 % of all apartments in Bologna are used for short‑term tourism rentals. When the definition is narrowed to properties rented for more than 120 nights per year, the share falls to a mere 0.11 % of the housing stock. These figures suggest that the short‑term rental sector occupies a marginal portion of the city’s overall housing market.

Elisabetta Brunelli, president of Ape Confedilizia Bologna, blames the mayor for price increases and the higher tourist tax, claiming that the discourse has shifted from housing emergencies to “ethical” arguments that conceal policy failures. Giovanni Paglia, a regional councillor, supports a “Bologna model” to be extended across Emilia‑Romagna, advocating for a regional law that standardises regulations for municipalities.

Ape Confedilizia announces that it will contest every municipal decree in the administrative court (Tar). Simultaneously, the association plans a protest rally of Bologna property owners, asserting that housing is a fundamental right independent of political ideology.

Confcommercio Ascom, representing the retail and service sector, warns that restrictive measures could harm the city’s economy and tourism. Representatives argue that Bologna’s status as a medical hub and tourist destination generates significant fiscal revenue and employment, which could be jeopardised by limiting private property use.

The article highlights calls for the public sector to refurbish vacant municipal buildings and reintegrate them into the rental market, aligning with the national “piano casa” initiative for public residential construction. It also stresses the need for dialogue with banks to ease mortgage conditions, thereby facilitating home ownership and long‑term rentals as a more sustainable alternative to short‑term tourism accommodation.

The Bologna case illustrates how local regulatory actions on short‑term rentals can provoke intense stakeholder opposition, especially when the sector represents a tiny fraction of housing but generates substantial economic impact. For pan‑European audiences, the data underscore the importance of balanced policies that protect affordable long‑term housing while recognising the modest scale of short‑term rentals. Collaborative approaches involving public‑private partnerships, renovation of underused public assets, and supportive financing mechanisms are presented as pathways toward more sustainable urban housing ecosystems.