Florence wants to ban the use of residential properties in its historic center for short-term rentals by platforms such as Airbnb in a bid to solve the Tuscan city’s housing crisis, Reuters reports.

Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence, one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations, said his city would follow the new rules at a local level, as he found draft rules for the sector at a national level disappointing.

Under Nardella’s proposal, dubbed “historic downtown preservation,” the mayor plans to block new short-term rentals and offer tax breaks to encourage permanent residency.

Nardella is a member of the center-left PD party, which is part of the national opposition.

Housing crisis in Italy and student protests

As in other European countries, low wages, a shortage of real estate, short-term vacation rentals and high inflation have led to a housing crisis that has hit the poor and students hard in Italy.

The Italian government is working on a bill that would require every residential property rented out to tourists to have a national identification code to help track and regulate rentals, according to Italian media. Those who do not comply risk a fine of up to 5,000 euros.

In addition, the authorities of the most visited cities will have the right to set a minimum stay in the city center of two nights.

Florence is home to the Uffizi Art Gallery, and the city center was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1982.

Student protests against the rising cost of living in big cities have swept across Italy since last month.