Primary Residence or Second Home
French law makes an important distinction depending on the status of the property you are renting out.
Renting Out Your Primary Residence (Your Main Home)
If you rent out the property where you live for at least 8 months of the year, the administrative requirements are significantly simpler:
- The legal limit: You can rent out your property for a maximum of 120 days per year.
- The procedure: In most municipalities, no prior authorization is required, unless your local authority has introduced a mandatory registration number, as is the case in major cities and high-demand tourist areas.
Renting Out Your Second Home
If the property is not your primary residence, the regulations are stricter. To legally rent it to tourists, you generally need to complete two procedures:
- Registration with the local authorities: This is mandatory for all furnished tourist accommodation, either through the Cerfa form or an online platform such as Déclaloc.
- Change of use: In municipalities with more than 200,000 inhabitants and in areas classified as “tense” housing markets, you must obtain authorization from the local authority to convert a residential property into a short-term rental business.
The 4 Mandatory Steps Before Listing Your Property on Airbnb
1. Check the condominium rules:
Before getting started, carefully review your building’s regulations. They must expressly allow — or at least not prohibit — short-term furnished rentals. For example, a strict residential-use clause may prohibit this type of rental.
2. Obtain a registration number from the local authorities:
If your municipality requires one — which is mandatory in major cities and many tourist areas — you must register your property through your local authority’s website to obtain a 13-digit registration number. This number must appear on your online listing.
3. Register with the INPI to obtain a SIRET number:
This is a national requirement: you must register your activity as a Non-Professional Furnished Rental (LMNP) or Professional Furnished Rental (LMP) through the INPI One-Stop Shop within 15 days of starting your rental activity. This free procedure allows you to obtain your SIRET number, which is essential for your future tax declarations.
4. Declare your income and collect the tourist tax:
Rental income must be declared to the tax authorities, either under the Micro-BIC or Actual tax regime. In addition, you must ensure that the tourist tax is properly collected from guests. Platforms often handle this process, but the ultimate responsibility remains with the property owner.
Why Entrust Your Second Home to a Property Management Service?
If the administrative procedures seem daunting, don’t worry: at Quartz
Property Management Service, we guide you step by step through your initial declarations to help ensure that your property is fully compliant. Contact us!
Once these formalities have been completed with our guidance, we take over the day-to-day operational side: welcoming guests, hotel-quality cleaning, linen management, and optimizing rates according to the season.
You save time, enjoy greater peace of mind, and maximize your rental income while operating within the legal framework.
