Renting in Paris: how to avoid paying illegal rent?

Since the entry into force of the rent control in Paris, landlords must respect ceilings defined by the prefecture. However, many renters still pay a rent in excess of the authorized amount. In 2025, the rules were strengthened and remedies are more accessible. Are you renting a home in the capital? Here's how check if your rent is legal, and what to do if it's not.

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🏗️ Rent control in Paris: what are we talking about?

Before you check your rent, you need to understand What is the framing device and why did Paris implement it.

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🏛️ A device to limit excessive rents

Established in July 2019 and strengthened since then, the rent control requires that all lease signed or renewed in Paris Respect a reference rent defined by prefectural decree.

This rent depends on:

• The location (by neighborhood)
• The number of rooms
• The type of rental (furnished or empty)
• The period of construction of the building

We are talking about increased reference rent, which constitutes a legal ceiling.

📘 Source: City of Paris — Rent control

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🧮 How to calculate the rent ceiling for your home?

Let's see concretely How to find out the maximum authorized amount for your home in 2025.

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🗂️ The data you need to know

To use the official simulator, you need the following information:

• Exact address
• Type of rental (empty or furnished)
• Number of main rooms
• Construction date

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🧠 Concrete example

You rent a furnished one-bedroom apartment of 35 m² in the 11th arrondissement (Paris Center sector). In 2025, the increased reference rent is 34 €/m² approximately.

💡 Calculus : 34€ × 35 m² = €1,190/month excluding charges.
If you pay €1,350, your rent is illegal, unless a supplement is justified.

🔗 Tool: Paris rent control simulator

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⚠️ Rent supplement: what the law says

Some landlords bypass the ceiling by adding a Rent supplement on the lease. This supplement is legally possible, but strictly supervised by law. Here are the rules you need to know about rent supplements in 2025.

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✅ Allowed cases

An additional rent is only allowed if All the following conditions are met:

• Compliant base rent : the rent excluding charges (excluding supplements) already meets the increased reference ceiling.
• Outstanding features : the accommodation offers particular comfort or location benefits justifying a rent higher than normal. For example: a exceptional view (monument, panorama), a large private terrace, of luxury amenities or any other asset uncommon difficult to find on the traditional rental market.

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In practice, the owner must indicate in the lease the amount and the precise motivation of the rent supplement. This supplement remains an exception: it should not be used to compensate for a simple excess of the rent ceiling, but to compensate for a unique housing benefit.

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❌ Forbidden cases (since August 2022)

The “purchasing power” law of 16 August 2022 has restricts the possibilities of additional rent. Since August 18, 2022, no complements cannot be applied if the home has one or more of the following characteristics:

• Sanitary facilities on the landing (toilets outside the accommodation)
• Traces of humidity or infiltrations On the walls
• Energy diagnosis shelved F or G (energy strainer)
• Poor insulation : windows allowing abnormal air to pass through (excluding vents)
• Vis-a-vis less than 10 meters (strong promiscuity with the neighborhood)
• Infiltration or flooding coming from outside the home
• Drainage problems recurrent (e.g. backflow, congestion)
• Degraded electrical installation (non-compliant or dangerous)
• Poor exposure of the main room (lack of light)

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👉 In summary : if your home suffers from one of these defects, the landlord cannot require additional rent, even in the presence of otherwise high-end equipment. These prohibitions protect the tenant by preventing an owner from overvaluing a poor quality property.

(Legal references: Article 140 of the ELAN law amended by art. 13 of law No. 22-1158 of 16 August 2022).)

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📬 What should you do if your rent exceeds the ceiling?

Have you calculated that your rent exceeds the authorized limit? The law offers remedies. Here it is Three steps What to do to challenge illegal rent and win your case.

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1. 📩 Send a letter to the owner

Start with a Request for amicable regularization. Write to your landlord (preferably by letter) recommended with AR) by mentioning: the Maximum legal rent calculated, the Exceeding observed and your request to bring the lease into compliance (rent reduction via an amendment). Invite the owner to respond under a 1 month delay. This first amicable approach is recommended to try to reach an agreement without conflict. The owner can thus become aware of the illegality and correct the situation spontaneously.

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2. 🧾 Refer to the Departmental Conciliation Commission (CDC)

No response within a month, or in case of unjustified refusal from the lessor, you can contact the Paris CDC. It is an organism gratuitous and paritaire (representatives of tenants and owners) who offers a mediation amicable. Submit a file explaining the rent overpayment and your request for a reduction. The CDC will convene the parties in order to reach an agreement. If a conciliation is successful, an amendment to the lease must be signed, with the new compliant rent And the reimbursement of overpayments possible since the beginning of the lease. (Note: Referral to the CDC is not necessarily mandatory before going to court, but it is strongly recommended to attempt an amicable settlement.)

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3. ⚖️ Go to court (as a last resort)

In the event of a failure of conciliation, or if the owner sticks to his positions, you still have to take legal action. You can enter the Protection litigation judge (Paris judicial court) to assert your rights. The limitation period is 3 years from the signing of the lease: even if you are no longer in the home, you can take action up to 3 years later to seek justice. The judge may order a retroactive rent reduction at the legal level and condemn the lessor to reimburse overpaid rent (with interest if applicable). Recent court decisions (e.g. judgment of November 2020) have proved tenants right, encouraging tenants not to let these overruns pass.

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📉 What is the risk of an offending owner?

A landlord who charges rent above the legal limit is exposed to sanctions important financial and legal issues.

🔻 Penalties incurred

Since the end of 2022, the City of Paris has the power to control and punish rent abuse directly (previously the prefect's responsibility). After notification by a tenant and a formal notice that has remained ineffective, the City may impose a administrative fine going up to €5,000 (individual owner) or €15,000 (legal person, e.g. SCI or agency).

In addition, the offending lessor must: regularize the lease at the legal level. Even in the event of a fine, the tenant still has the option of referring the matter to the civil judge to obtain the Restitution of overpayments and the official modification of the lease agreement. At the same time, an aggrieved tenant can request damages to the court for the damage suffered as a result of illegal rent.

In practice, owners therefore have every interest in respecting the rent control. Checks have intensified in Paris, and tenants now have tools to assert their rights (online reporting, group action planned by certain associations, etc.). Excessive rent can be expensive: in addition to the fine, the landlord will have to reimburse the amounts unduly received and possibly pay court costs.

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🧠 How to avoid renting a property at illegal rent in Paris?

For future tenants, a few preventive reflexes make it possible to avoid signing a non-compliant lease.

🕵️ ‍ ♀️ Always check the rent before signing.

Don't blindly rely on the amount shown on the ad. Calculate the rent ceiling authorized for housing (via the official simulator or by consulting the prefectural decree). If the proposed rent exceeds this ceiling, ask the landlord. Insist that the lease clearly mentions the median reference rent, the increased reference rent applicable, as well as the Rent supplement where appropriate. These details are mandatory and a landlord who refuses to indicate them may be announcing a non-compliant rent.

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📋 Review the condition of the home.

Pay attention to the characteristics of the property. If it has one of imperfections listed above (humidity, F/G energy strainer, poor insulation, close proximity, etc.), no additional rent cannot legally be justified. Housing in poor condition should even alert you on the seriousness of the owner. Do not hesitate to ask for the DPE, check the ventilation, electricity, etc., as these elements have an impact on the legality of the rent.

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🤝 Have someone accompany you if necessary.

For the less experienced, call on a real estate professional can be useful, even for a rental. One Real estate hunter (mandated by the tenant) or a tenant association can help you check the conformity of the lease, to negotiate with the lessor and to avoid common pitfalls. For example, at MeCaza, our hunters ensure that the accommodations visited respect the rent control, thus avoiding unpleasant surprises.

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✅ Conclusion: stay informed to be protected

The Paris rental market is complex, but tools exist to identify and contest rent unlawful.

‍In summary :

• Always calculate the rent ceiling applicable before renting, and compare it to the rent requested.
• Dispute any unjustified rent supplement by an exceptional advantage.
• Call the CDC or report the overrun to the City if necessary, without delay.
• In the event of a dispute, do not hesitate to contact the judge to enforce your rights, within 3 years.
• Beforehand, surround yourself with advice (professionals or associations) to avoid engaging in a non-compliant lease.

👉 In 2025, the vigilance of the tenant is more than ever a guarantee of protection... and savings!

Take the time to find out about your rights, in order to calmly rent a home at the right price, in accordance with the law.

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