Rent Control in Paris

1. What is the rent control system in Paris?

Since July 1, 2019, the City of Paris has implemented a rent control system to better manage rental prices.
It applies to:

• All main residence rentals;

• mobility leases (for students, interns, temporary employees).

In practice, the Paris territory is divided into more than 100 sectors, each with a reference rent expressed in €/m² excluding charges.
👉 To check the applicable ceiling for a specific address, you can use the official simulator here.

Since mid-2023, the Paris rental market has been under significant pressure, particularly for small vacant units.
Two main factors explain this situation:

• Increased demand: the sharp rise in interest rates has pushed many potential buyers toward renting.

• Decreased supply: rent control, increased property taxes, and energy renovation obligations are hindering some owners, thus reducing the number of available properties.

The result: the pressure is maximal on small units rented vacant as main residences, and a bit less strong in the furnished market, especially for larger homes.

2. How is the rent ceiling determined?

The reference rent depends on several criteria

• Exact address of the property;

• Year of construction of the building;

• Number of main rooms;

• Type of rental: vacant or furnished.

Each listing must therefore adhere to this increased ceiling, under penalty of sanctions.

3. Can the ceiling be exceeded with a rent supplement?

   
   

Yes, it is possible to add a rent supplement under certain conditions.
This must be justified by the property’s exceptional features such as:

• A spacious terrace;

• An unobstructed view;

• A private garden, etc.

However, the regulations remain vague regarding the assessment of these elements, which leaves some room for interpretation for landlords and exposes them to potential disputes with tenants.

4. An imperfect system

Despite its advantages, rent control has certain limits:

• Some inconsistencies for properties located at the border between two zones with different rents;

• A difficult application for atypical housing;

• Improved transparency due to the digitalization of listings, but still not perfect.

In summary, rent control better structures the market, but does not completely eliminate disparities.

5. Why are our landlords less affected?

Within BAUVAUT, 3/4 of the rentals made escape rent control.
We prefer to sign leases under the Civil Code, which concern:

• rentals to businesses;

• employer-provided housing;

• secondary residences for tenants.

In this framework, the rent is freely set, without being limited by the ceilings of traditional rent control.
For more information, consult our section dedicated to the advantages of the Civil Code lease.

6. Conclusion: Rent Control 2025, what to remember

The rent control in Paris aims to regulate prices for main residences and protect tenants.
Even though it offers more visibility on rates, it still contains some imprecisions and interpretative margins.

For investors or landlords looking to bypass these constraints, the Civil Code lease remains an excellent alternative, offering more freedom in setting rents.

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