The French rental market is undergoing a period of profound regulatory changes. Between the ban on renting thermal sieves classified as G starting January 2025, the shortening of deadlines in case of unpaid rent, and an increasingly extensive but unevenly enforced rent control, the legal framework for renting no longer resembles that of five years ago. Both tenants and landlords need to understand these changes before signing anything.
EPC and rental ban: what the energy classification of the housing changes
As of January 1, 2025, a property classified as G in the energy performance diagnosis is legally considered not decent and prohibited for rental. This measure, stemming from the Climate and Resilience Law of August 22, 2021, and Decree No. 2002-120 of January 30, 2002, as amended, applies to new leases and renewals.
The consequences for a landlord who disregards this are concrete: nullity of the lease, judicial reduction of the rent, damages, or even the obligation to carry out energy renovation work. For a tenant, this means they have a legal lever if they find that the offered housing has a G EPC.
Before signing anything, check the energy class on the listing and in the technical diagnostics file. Tenants and landlords who wish to find all the rental information on info-immobilier.net can consult the updated obligations related to the lease and the EPC there.
The timeline does not stop at the G classification. Properties classified as F will follow in the coming years, which will gradually reduce the available rental supply if renovation work is not undertaken in time. Field reports vary on landlords’ actual ability to finance these renovations within the deadlines.
Rent control: theoretical rules, variable compliance
Rent control now applies to several major French metropolitan areas. Recent data shows a growing gap between the rule and practice, with a significant portion of listings exceeding the reference rents in the affected cities.
For a tenant, checking the applicable increased reference rent for their housing is a step not to be overlooked. This ceiling depends on the location, the number of rooms, the construction period, and whether the property is furnished or not. Each affected municipality publishes these references on its website or through a dedicated tool.
The problem lies in the enforcement. Remedies exist (referral to the departmental conciliation commission, action for rent reduction), but they remain underused. The available data does not allow for concluding that the system has slowed rent increases in the most strained areas.
Rent and charges: distinguish the items before signing the lease
The amount displayed on a rental listing does not always correspond to the actual cost. Rental charges (provision for charges or flat rate for furnished properties), the garbage collection tax recharged, and any authorized rent supplements in certain areas can significantly alter the monthly bill.
- Check if the rent is indicated as inclusive of charges or exclusive of charges, and request the details of the monthly provision as well as the last annual adjustment.
- Verify the existence of a rent supplement: it must be justified by exceptional characteristics of the housing (view, terrace, rare equipment) and can be contested within three months of signing the lease.
- Ask for the amount of the garbage collection tax charged the previous year, as it is not included in the current charges but remains recoverable by the landlord.
Unpaid rent: a reduced regularization period of six weeks
A modification of the regime for unpaid rents, which came into effect in July 2025, has shortened the regularization period left to the tenant to six weeks after a payment order. Previously, this period allowed for more leeway.
For tenants, this change increases the time pressure in case of financial difficulty. A payment delay that could have been resolved amicably in a few months now risks quickly escalating into a contentious procedure.
On the landlord’s side, this reform aims to secure rental income and reduce the duration of procedures. However, it does not exempt from taking out rent default insurance or requiring a solid guarantor. The Visale guarantee, free for certain tenant profiles, remains an alternative to consider before turning to private insurance.
Building a solid rental file: the authorized documents
The list of documents that a landlord or real estate agency can require is regulated by law. A landlord who requests an unauthorized document exposes themselves to a financial penalty.
- One valid form of identification: ID card, passport, or driver’s license, French or foreign, with a photo.
- A current proof of residence: three most recent rent receipts, accommodation certificate, or property tax notice if the applicant is a homeowner.
- One or more proof of income: three most recent pay slips, last tax notice, employment contract, or employer’s certificate.
- A proof of professional situation: employment contract, Kbis extract for a self-employed person, student card if applicable.
No money can be requested before the lease is signed, not even as a reservation fee. The security deposit (one month’s rent excluding charges for an unfurnished rental, two months for a furnished one) is only due upon signing.
Landlord or tenant: the inventory remains the main point of friction
The entry inventory, carried out in a contradictory manner between the two parties, conditions the return of the security deposit at the end of the lease. A hasty or incomplete inventory generates the majority of rental disputes. Photographing each room, noting the precise condition of equipment and coverings, and keeping a signed copy by both parties constitutes the minimum to avoid a costly disagreement upon exit.
The rental market is evolving rapidly, with energy restrictions, expanded rent control, and reforms on unpaid rents. Checking the EPC, the reference rent, and the compliance of the file before committing remains the best protection, regardless of which side of the lease you are on.
