Faced with an alarming increase in the number and cost of their interventions, French firefighters are calling for solutions to strengthen their funding. Among them: tax Airbnb more.
While a proposed law aimed at combating rental speculation due in particular to platforms like Airbnb, Abritel or Booking is being discussed this Monday in the National Assembly, the French firefighters are coming out of the woodwork. The president of their national federation, Jean-Paul Bosland, proposed taxing American society and revising the contributions of insurers, to respond to the rising costs of firefighters.
Insurers, Airbnb & co in the spotlight
“ When you have, as in Allier, at the beginning of summer 2022, a hail storm which leads to 4,000 interventions in 24 hours and this type of exceptional event, which occurred every five years, occurs every six months, it’s no longer absorbable », explains Jean-Paul Bosland.
Firefighters are now suggesting taxing seasonal rental platforms like Airbnb to stem the phenomenon of municipalities seeing their population increase tenfold due to the tourism generated by these companies. Because this phenomenon has, as you will have understood, harmful effects on the activity of firefighters and on the quality of service.
The latter also propose a review of the amounts and terms of the special tax on insurance agreements (TSCA) paid by insurers, which produced 1.2 billion euros in 2021. This tax has not been reassessed since for a long time, and according to firefighters, it no longer corresponds to reality.
A bill to reduce the tax advantages of seasonal rentals
The report from the general inspection of the administration published in October 2022 precisely highlights the challenges facing firefighters. The massive fires experienced in 2022 also highlight the need to find additional resources to respond to evolving risks and responses.
If the State has released 150 million euros to strengthen the material resources of the departmental fire and rescue services (SDIS), firefighters are calling for the sustainability of resources. For them, it is necessary to increase staff numbers and strengthen equipment, to cope with the growing demand for interventions, particularly in places and areas subject to strong tourist pressure.
A bill presented to the National Assembly this Monday, January 29 (and which could even be voted on the same day) aims to reduce the tax advantages of seasonal rental on the platforms. It seeks to combat rental speculation and promote access to housing in tense areas, particularly in Marseille, where anger against Airbnb is great.
Source : The ParisianClubic
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