We’re in The Times again!
Further to our mention back in 2022 in an article about buying property in Chamonix, we were contacted again by The Times for our thoughts on the recent announcement of changes to holiday rental regulations in Chamonix. The article, “The French Alpine resort fighting back against tourist rentals” [paywall], was published online on 6th August 2024, and in print on 9th August.
In the article, journalist Cathy Hawker explains that, like in Barcelona and Mallorca, here in Chamonix “Second-homers and property investors stand accused of forcing up rental prices by buying properties to rent out on a short-term basis to tourists. This means there are fewer places for local people and workers to stay to service the local community and tourism industry.”
However, tourism is essential to Chamonix’s local economy and many visitors, like Chamonix All Year’s guests, are looking for the home-from-home experience that self-catered holiday homes offer.
Our Managing Director, Kerry Pirlot, was interviewed for the article and agrees that “a balance needs to be found between welcoming the tourists that Chamonix requires and supplying affordable homes.”
“Chamonix has always been one of the best resorts in the Alps for workers in the hospitality sector because of its strong year-round life and great atmosphere,” she says.
The new regulations in Chamonix will require all holiday rentals (self-catered accommodation in Chamonix) to register with the commune and receive an authorisation to rent. Authorisations will be limited to one per person. This should pose no problems for Chamonix All Year’s owners or guests, as “99 per cent of our owners have only one property. They buy in Chamonix because they love the resort and want to be here themselves”.
With our 21 years of experience in Chamonix (we celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2023), we are well-positioned to assist our owners with the paperwork that will be required.
Chamonix All Year manages more than 80 chalets whose owners, predominantly from the UK and France, can achieve over 20 weeks’ annual rental.
“All our properties are already registered at the town hall for payment of the local tourist tax so this extra layer of admin will not be troubling for owners and we’ll help handle it.”
In addition to our experience in local property management (including all housekeeping and maintenance), we are also experts in marketing and promoting our owners’ Chamonix accommodation. Our online presence is very strong, with a high-performing website and preferential integrations with the major online booking platforms, so as an owner you know your property will be optimised for rentals when you aren’t using it yourself.
If you’re looking to invest in a property in Chamonix, we can provide impartial advice on what your property needs to succeed in the rental market. For owners who’ve already bought their dream home-from-home, we can calculate detailed rental income forecasts versus property management charges so you can see clearly your potential net income.
Find out more about the Owner Services we offer, and when you’re ready to discuss the rental potential of your Chamonix property, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us: info@chamonixallyear.com.
