🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Milan, Italy

Milan Locks It Down: City Bans Key Boxes for Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rental hosts in Milan are waking up to a big change: the city is officially banning the self-check-in key boxes that have long been a staple of Airbnb-style hosting. Starting in January, property owners who keep these key boxes in place will face fines of about £350, a firm move from local leaders who say the growing number of lockboxes has gotten out of hand.

These little metal boxes may seem harmless, but in Milan, they've become a symbol of the tension between locals and the fast-growing short-term rental market. Hosts love them because they let guests arrive whenever they want without meeting in person. But residents have increasingly called them “visual clutter,” saying they sprout up on building entrances, railings, and shared walls like mushrooms after rain. For many locals, these boxes don’t just look messy, they’re reminders of how tourist stays are edging into everyday neighborhoods.

City councilor Michele Albiani didn’t mince words about why the new rule is necessary. He pointed out that self-check-ins often spill over into public space and benefit private property owners at the expense of residents. With more tourists arriving than ever and Milan experiencing its own share of the European overtourism debate, city officials say they can’t ignore the strain anymore.

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Short-term rentals have grown rapidly in Milan, just as they have in Spain, Portugal, and other popular destinations, leading to rising rents, tighter housing availability, and crowded residential streets. The ban on key boxes is one of the city’s most direct attempts yet to push back on the convenience-driven, tourism-focused infrastructure that’s slowly creeping into residential areas.

Florence introduced a similar ban earlier this year, and many cities across Europe are exploring additional restrictions on STRs—from registration requirements to stricter zoning rules. Milan’s new measure may not overhaul the entire short-term rental system, but it sends a clear message: convenience for hosts can’t come at the cost of community character.

Platforms like Airbnb argue that they're being unfairly blamed for overtourism pressures, saying hotels contribute just as much—if not more—to visitor numbers. Still, in neighborhoods where residents feel priced out or overwhelmed, it’s the STR infrastructure they see right outside their doors.

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