Housing: the Moroccan government wants to regulate Airbnb and reduce rents by 20%

The government’s assessment is clear: the proliferation of tourist rentals to the detriment of residential housing is drying up the supply and causing prices to skyrocket. The Secretary of State warned that this commercial rental model is diverting housing from its primary use, creating major tensions in urban centers.

To address this, a regulatory decree is in preparation. The goal is to limit the uncontrolled expansion of these practices in non-tourist areas and to put long-term housing back at the center of urban priorities.

Alongside this regulation, the ministry is conducting a study, the results of which are expected in March, to reduce rents by about 20% compared to current market prices.

The proposed model is based on a rent-to-own system primarily targeting the middle class:

• Reduced rent: Housing offered 20% below market prices.
• Integrated savings: A portion of the rent paid would be converted into capital.
• Ownership: After a period of 5 to 6 years, tenants could use this savings to become homeowners.

This government intervention comes after a decade of uninterrupted price increases. Between 2013 and 2023, the average price per square meter jumped by 60% in Casablanca and more than 66% in Rabat. According to Adib Benbrahim, this situation is exacerbated by speculation and the scarcity of land, making access to housing increasingly difficult for local households.