2026 Municipal Elections in Paris: What This Changes for Your Rental Property

Emmanuel Grégoire has just been elected Mayor of Paris. In the hours following the announcement of the results, a question circulated among the capital's buy-to-let landlords: should they worry about their rental investment?

The short answer: no. The full answer is more nuanced — and above all, more strategic. Here is what this new mandate concretely means for you.

A housing policy of continuity, not disruption

Emmanuel Grégoire's program does not represent a radical change of direction: it extends and intensifies guidelines already in place under Anne Hidalgo. What this means for Parisian landlords is therefore largely predictable — as long as you read the signals correctly.

The main points confirmed:

Rent control remains in force and will not be called into question. Owners renting under the 1989 Act lease (furnished or unfurnished) must continue to respect the reference rents set by prefectural decree, under pain of sanctions.

The fight against vacant housing will intensify. Requisition schemes are being mentioned for properties left unoccupied for more than five years. For owners who delay putting a property back on the market, the signal is clear.

The priority on primary residences and long-term renting is reaffirmed as the political compass of the mandate.

Short-term rentals: the real fault line

It is on this point that the change is most tangible. The tightening of rules governing Airbnb-type rentals in Paris is nothing new — but the new municipality is going to speed up its application and strengthen controls.

In practice, in Paris in 2026:

Only a primary residence can be offered for tourist rental, up to a strict limit of 90 days per calendar year. Beyond that, you are outside the legal framework, regardless of the platform used.

Secondary residences can no longer be used for short-term rentals. This ban, already written into the regulations, is now actively monitored — with significant fines for offenders.

Operators managing several properties in intensive tourist rental are the primary targets of the City's inspection services.

Direct consequence for landlords who were operating short-term rentals from a secondary residence or dedicated rental investment: this model is no longer viable in Paris. This is not an opinion — it is a regulatory reality.

[→ Suggested internal link: "Short-term rentals in Paris: the rules every landlord must know"]

What opportunities this context creates for other landlords

The apparent paradox of this tightening is that it is actually good news for landlords who rent long-term — and in particular under Civil Code leases.

Here is why: a significant portion of Parisian rental demand — mobile executives, expatriates, employees of multinational corporations, diplomats — had gotten into the habit of turning to short-term rentals upon arrival in the capital, sometimes for stays of several months. With a heavily contracting short-term market, these profiles are turning towards medium and long-term furnished rentals.

For the landlord who has a well-located, well-equipped, and seriously managed apartment, this evolution represents an additional flow of qualified demand, with solvent tenants and stable occupancy periods.

The Civil Code lease: still exempt from rent control, still intact

A question has come up frequently since the election: will the Civil Code lease be targeted by the new municipality?

The answer is no — and for a simple reason: the Civil Code lease is governed by national law, not municipal authority. The City of Paris cannot legislate on private law contracts. Only the national legislature (Parliament) can modify this framework.

As the law stands, leases concluded under the Civil Code — used in particular for rentals to legal entities (companies, embassies) or for secondary residences occupied for less than 8 months a year — are not subject to Parisian rent control. The landlord freely sets the rent amount, security deposit conditions, and contractual clauses.

This regime remains one of the most flexible and profitable available in Paris. For landlords targeting corporate or international clients, there is no reason to change strategy.

[→ Suggested internal link: "Civil Code lease in Paris: how it works, benefits, and conditions"]

What the new mandate will improve for Paris's attractiveness

Beyond housing policy strictly speaking, several commitments from the new mayor deserve the attention of buy-to-let landlords — because they directly determine Paris's residential attractiveness for an international clientele.

Extension of metro operating hours, with more ambitious night service goals. Continued development of cycle paths and pedestrian zones. Improved cleanliness in public spaces. These are precisely the criteria that international rental applicants look at when comparing Paris to other European capitals.

A city that is more pleasant to live in means a rental market that remains deeply attractive — which protects the value of your asset and maintains demand for your property.

What you should do now

If you are a buy-to-let landlord in Paris, here is what this new political context concretely dictates:

If you rent short-term on a secondary residence or dedicated investment, it is time to consider converting to long-term furnished rental or a Civil Code lease. Continuing illegally exposes you to growing fines and the risk of being banned from platforms.

If you already rent long-term, you are in the right position. The market is shifting in your favor: qualified demand is concentrating, and competition from short-term rentals is declining.

If you have not yet optimized your rental strategy — type of lease, pricing positioning, target tenant — this is the right time to do so, before the competition adapts in turn.

[→ Suggested internal link: "Which rental strategy to choose in Paris in 2026?"]

Would you like to reposition your property or optimize your rental strategy in Paris?

BAUVAUT supports Parisian landlords at every step — from analyzing your situation to letting and daily management. Whether you are looking to switch from short to long-term, or maximize the yield of an already let property, we build the appropriate strategy with you. Contact us for a non-binding discussion.