A Marseille real estate investor who illegally converted residential properties into short-term tourist rentals while bragging about his profits on social media was ordered on Wednesday to pay 440,000 euros in civil fines, according to the municipality of Marseille.
Crackdown on Unlicensed Tourist Rentals in Marseille
The Marseille tribunal ordered three companies owned by the multi-property investor to pay the civil penalties after investigators found they operated six tourist rentals without authorization. According to the city of Marseille, the properties generated more than 1,3 million euros between 2022 and 2025. Court documents highlight a significant gap between the revenue recorded on Airbnb and the income the owner actually declared.
The court directed that the renovated apartments must revert to residential use within 15 days. Investigators found that the properties had simply been hidden on Airbnb and relisted under medium-term mobility leases, which allow furnished rentals for up to 10 months.
Municipal Regulations and Housing Market Impact
The city government has tightened short-term rental rules to combat a housing shortage and rising rents in local neighborhoods. Under regulations enacted in 2025, property owners outside their primary residences must obtain official authorization to change property use and provide compensating long-term rental space of equivalent surface area.
Me Jorge Mendes Constante, the lawyer representing the city of Marseille, called the judicial decision a fundamental tool in defending local housing availability. According to municipal figures cited by the city’s legal counsel, strict enforcement has reduced the total number of tourist rental listings in Marseille from 12 937 in 2024 to 10 827 in 2025.
Social Media Exposes Real Estate Investor
The defendant marketed himself online as a real estate coach and influencer, posting videos boasting about earning one million euros in four years and stating that he ran a business rather than a charity. Municipal lawyers originally requested 1,5 million euros in fines, pointing to properties converted in the historic Panier tourist district and the city center without mandatory compensation filings. The investor’s total real estate portfolio is estimated at approximately three million euros.
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