Renting an apartment in France

What to know before you rent

Typical rents

The official rent observatory network measured a median private rent of €18.3 per m² per month (excluding charges) across the Paris agglomeration outside the city of Paris in 2025. (source, 2025)

Deposits

The security deposit is capped at one month's rent excluding charges for unfurnished lets and two months for furnished lets; it must be returned within one month (two if the exit inventory shows differences). (source, 2026)

Leases

An unfurnished lease from a private landlord normally runs for at least 3 years; a shorter term is allowed only in specific cases set out in the law. (source, 2026)

Tenant rights

Paris has applied rent control since 1 July 2019: on a new or renewed lease the base rent cannot exceed the 'loyer de référence majoré' for the area, and tenants can report overcharges to the City. (source, 2026)

Agent fees

Agency fees charged to tenants (file, visit, lease drafting, inventory) are capped per m² and must be shared with the landlord; the caps were indexed upwards from 1 January 2026. (source, 2026-01)

Short-term rental rules

• Paris: Paris requires a registration number for every furnished tourist let; a principal residence may be let as a tourist rental for at most 90 days a year, with fines up to €10,000 per year of excess and up to €5,000 for no registration. (source, 2026)
• France: Under the 2024 Le Meur law, registration of furnished tourist lets becomes mandatory in every commune once the national online registration service launches (planned Q4 2026); communes may cap principal-residence lets. (source, 2026-07)