Italian city warns ‘this is just the beginning’ as council goes to war with key boxes

If you’re planning to rent a holiday flat in Rome’s iconic historic centre, you might soon find your self-check-in routine disrupted.

The Italian capital has launched a bold crackdown on , the small safes that let tourists access their rentals without meeting the host, and which have become a symbol of overtourism. 

has officially begun removing key boxes from tourist flats in its historic centre with municipal police already dismantling key boxes on Wednesday in the picturesque Monti district, one of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods.

Alessandro Onorato, the city’s tourism councillor said: “This is just the beginning, and we will finish once decorum and legality triumph. 

“We are confident that by keeping attention high and engaging the public on an ongoing basis, the owners of these facilities will understand that this game has gone on too long.”

The city, bracing for a record-breaking influx of 32 million visitors this year as it celebrates a Jubilee, has seen the proliferation of these key boxes, often hung from lampposts or street signs.

While activists have taken matters into their own hands by removing these boxes in recent months, the city council has now stepped in with a decisive plan to remove them from public spaces.

The council has even set up an email address where locals can report the presence of these boxes.

However, the mayor of Rome refuted claims of “chaos” in the city during the Vatican’s Jubilee Year, stating that 2025 will be an excellent year to visit the Italian capital.

Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri said at Albergatore Day, an annual event for hospitality and tourism: “We do not accept the false stories about the chaos of Rome for the Jubilee Year. 

“Instead, it will be a good year to visit Rome. It will be a turning point.”

The mayor defended Rome’s efforts for the Jubilee, countering claims that the city is bogged down by construction and cleanliness issues.

He highlighted the record-breaking 22 million tourists last year as evidence of Rome’s efficiency, asserting that the city is organised, clean, and a prime European capital. 

Italy has officially banned key boxes for holiday rentals, following a similar move in Florence.

The ban, which became effective on November 18, 2024, reportedly aims to address public safety concerns, particularly the risk of renting to individuals with unknown identities who could pose security threats.

As the rise of Airbnb properties has caused growing unrest in European cities, many residents have voiced frustration over the disruption to neighbourhoods and the skyrocketing housing prices. 

Earlier this year, residents in Rome, Florence, and Milan took matters into their own hands, sabotaging key lock boxes in protest against the impact of short-term rentals.