Recently, hundreds of signatures have been collected in Desenzano against the phenomenon of short-term rentals, in an initiative promoted by the Autonomous Gardesano Collective (Cga) and the Garda Environmental Table. The petition, titled “A home is for those who live in it: stop short-term rentals,” has seen active participation from citizens, many of whom are struggling to find stable housing due to increasing touristification. As of June 26, 529 signatures were recorded during various booths set up in the squares of Desenzano and Rivoltella, accompanied by poignant testimonies from residents forced to leave their homes to make way for vacation rentals.
The situation has become critical: there are currently over 1,000 vacation homes in the area, representing a 10% increase compared to 2024. Local authorities acknowledge the housing emergency, highlighting that Desenzano is classified as a “red zone” in the Housing Offer Plan for Area 11 Garda. Among the requests made in the petition are the implementation of restrictions on new tourist homes in the most saturated areas and incentives to promote long-term rentals. Despite the lack of response from Mayor Guido Malinverno, the promoters intend to continue their fight to ensure the right to housing for local residents.
