The true "fat cats" will still buy their places and just keep them empty and for their use only so there will be less tourist dollars for the local economy. The middle class person who has a dream of having a flat in Paris that is only doable with rental income will be squeezed out."

Exactly!
I stayed in a nice small apt. in Paris a few weeks ago owned by a retired couple who lives, in another small apt., in the South of France.
They come to Paris once in a while, but for them, the apt. in Paris is a source of income and an investment for old age.

"Nous are zee apartemente gendarmes! Are vous zee owner of zis apartemente?"

It ain't gonna happen.

It may be old news here and where you are, but this report has just appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald travel section -

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...805-11j7y.html

Note the last para comment attributed to the Guardian -

"Parisian authorities initiated a similar measure last year and it is now illegal to rent out a residential apartment in Paris for less than a year. However, so far, only one case has made it to court. What has happened, though, is that the pool of available properties has shrunk."

OK then, is it legal to rent out an apartment in Paris for less than a year, or is it not?

I have stayed in a hotel in Paris and this May in an apartment for a week. I much preferred the apartment altho it was on the 4th floor with no elevator. It had a small kitchen and was less expensive than a comparable hotel room would have been.

Have the hotels in Paris had a reduced occupancy? If so, they are probably 100 percent behind this law.

Dear Parler Paris Reader,

There were so many other things I wanted to write about today...the upcoming Bals des Pompiers, tonight's World Cup Final and the Tour de France...but it hasn't worked out that way. Instead, my email inbox is overflowing with readers' queries about the article that appeared in the New York Times yesterday.

As much as I'd like to just ignore the issue and hope that it goes away (for the third time), not only will you simply not let me, but you all deserve to know the truth (as I know it) and another point of view, namely mine.

The article is not new news. In fact, it's really old news (from last November) that has been resurrected by a New York Times journalist that uses a sensational opening line to get your attention. Before I direct you to the article itself, consider what I have to say about it first, then, read it with a clearer pair of glasses...

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE:
http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerpar...ris7-7-10.html

Anyway, we have five new 5-star hotels opening in Paris over the next 18 months (well, actually the Royal Monceau will be re-opening). So much nicer than those decrepit apartments!

I've no problem with them enforcing an existing law. What would be of more concern is if a new law is passed in a city where this wasn't in place before. Then you'd be reducing the value of the existing apartments by limiting their use. Since people who bought these Parisian apartments were already subject to this law, then they should abide by it IMO.

thanks Adrian!

Just a simple <i>oui</i> or <i>non</i> please.