Since late 2024, a new law has tightened the rules around short-term rentals in France. Nicknamed the "anti-Airbnb law," it targets classic tourist furnished rentals, not furnished housing rented for mobility reasons (studies, internships, work assignments). Here's exactly what it changes, and how to tell if it applies to you.
What is the Le Meur law?
Law n° 2024-1039 of 19 November 2024, known as the "loi Le Meur" after its rapporteur, MP Annaïg Le Meur, was promulgated on 19 November 2024 and published in the Journal officiel the next day. Its goal: give municipalities and co-ownership associations new tools to regulate tourist furnished rentals, reform their favorable tax treatment, and subject them to energy-performance requirements, in areas where short-term tourist rentals compete with permanent housing.
The law specifically targets furnished rentals to transient guests, listed on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, or Abritel. It does not change the rules for classic furnished leases or for the "bail mobilité" (mobility lease), which remain ordinary housing contracts.
The micro-BIC tax break is now much smaller
This is the measure that hits host income most directly. Starting with income earned in 2025, the micro-BIC tax regime's abatements and revenue ceilings are cut:
| Before the law | Since 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Classified rentals & guest houses: tax abatement | 71% | 50% |
| Classified rentals & guest houses: revenue ceiling | €188,700 | €77,700 |
| Unclassified rentals: tax abatement | 50% | 30% |
| Unclassified rentals: revenue ceiling | €77,700 | €15,000 |
The new 30% abatement for unclassified rentals now matches the rate applied to unfurnished, long-term rentals. This effectively closes what French press called the "Airbnb tax loophole," which let short-term hosts pay far less tax than a classic landlord on equivalent income.
Energy ratings (DPE) are now required
The law gradually holds tourist furnished rentals to the same energy-performance standard as primary residences, to stop landlords from pulling F- or G-rated homes out of the long-term rental market to convert them into short-term rentals, which faced fewer constraints until now.
- Since 21 November 2024: any newly regulated rental subject to change-of-use authorization must show an energy rating between A and E.
- From 1 January 2034: every tourist furnished rental must be rated A to D, the same standard applied to homes rented year-round.
- Non-compliance carries a fine of up to €5,000 per property.
Mayors can now lower the annual cap to 90 days
The historic 120-day annual cap on renting out a primary residence as a tourist furnished rental remains the baseline. But the law lets municipalities in high-demand housing markets lower it to 90 days by a simple municipal council vote, without needing a prefectural decree.
Municipalities where second homes make up more than 20% of the housing stock can also set quotas on tourist furnished rentals or reserve certain zones for permanent housing. Change-of-use authorization, previously limited to large cities and inner Paris suburbs, can now be adopted by any municipality through a simple council vote.
Co-ownership associations can ban tourist rentals more easily
The law's second lever is the co-ownership bylaws (règlement de copropriété). Since 21 November 2024, any new bylaws must state explicitly whether tourist furnished rentals are allowed or banned. In existing buildings with a "residential-use" clause, the general assembly can now vote to ban tourist rentals of secondary residences with a two-thirds majority, down from the unanimity previously required.
An owner or tenant who wants to rent out a unit as a tourist furnished rental must also notify the building manager (syndic), who must add the topic to the next general assembly's agenda.
National registration and penalties
A registration number is now required to publish a tourist furnished rental listing, via an online declaration (Cerfa form n° 14004 in municipalities that require it). Full rollout of the national registration system is planned for 20 May 2026. Publishing a listing without a valid registration number carries a fine of up to €5,000.
Does the Le Meur law apply to your rental?
This is the most misunderstood question, and the most important one if you're looking to rent or sublet housing in France for more than a few nights. The Le Meur law specifically regulates tourist furnished rentals, meaning furnished units let to transient guests who don't actually live there. It does not apply to:
- The bail mobilité (mobility lease): a 1 to 10 month contract reserved for people with a documented mobility situation (studies, internship, work assignment, relocation). The unit is the tenant's actual residence for the length of the lease, not a tourist rental. No tourist declaration or municipal authorization is required.
- Classic furnished leases (minimum one-year term, or nine months for a student). Same logic: this is housing, not a tourist service.
In practice, a student renting a furnished studio for the academic year, or a consultant on a four-month assignment signing a bail mobilité, are not affected by the new tourist-rental rules, even though the unit is furnished and rented for a relatively short term. The distinction comes from the nature of the contract and how the unit is actually used, not from duration alone.
Key takeaways
- The Le Meur law targets tourist furnished rentals (Airbnb-style), not classic furnished leases or the bail mobilité.
- The micro-BIC tax regime is significantly less favorable starting with 2025 income: the abatement drops to 50% (classified) or 30% (unclassified).
- An A-to-E energy rating is already required for newly regulated rentals, with an A-to-D target for all tourist rentals by 2034.
- Municipalities in high-demand areas can cut the annual cap to 90 days and impose quotas.
- Co-ownership associations can ban tourist rentals more easily, with a two-thirds majority instead of unanimity.
- A national registration number will be mandatory for every listing, with full rollout planned for 20 May 2026.
The full text of the law is available on Légifrance. Tax thresholds tend to shift with each year's finance law, so it's worth confirming the regime that applies to your specific situation with a professional before filing.
LivedIn is a furnished rental platform in Paris, built for stays of 1 week to 10 months: bail mobilité and classic furnished leases, not tourist rentals. If you want to list your property in this format, explore LivedIn.
