French Gites - 1 of 5 - Can you run a Gite?

Given our other business is running Gites in Normandy, it seemed topical to do a few posts on Gites: CAN you run a Gite, SHOULD you run a Gite and then a Gite owners view on GITE TAX.  For what should be a "tame" topic the politics of Rental property ownership/perceived shortage of accommodation in big cities is making it a bit too interesting with legal changes and tax changes.  

Firstly - CAN you run a Gite in France?  The rules are changing this year:

- you clearly need personally to be allowed to run a Gite Business.  So French/EU Citizens, those with Withdrawal Agreement Residence cards and Visas allowing you to do any work /run a business should be fine.  However, if you are just visiting France or have a visitors visa you will have made a declaration you will not work.  So highly questionable if you can operate a Gite yourself.  If someone else does all the work and you are just earning a passive income then that is likely OK...but you cannot work...and you should check your own circumstances very carefully;

- second, until now you needed permission from the local Mairie as well.  No permission - no gite.  In rural areas probably no issue - in bigger cities with accommodation issues maybe less so;

- finally, the "new" rules coming are a national database.  This is supposed to go live in May with the system to register going live in March/April.  Waiting to see what this looks like in practice....

Whatever you do, do not ignore the rules.