Seasonal Rentals: all the new obligations you need to Know!
Seasonal rentals: the regulation of furnished tourist rentals has accelerated significantly with the entry into force of several measures stemming from municipal decisions and the so-called Le Meur Law.
Municipal registration, maximum rental duration, energy performance, taxation: property owners must now comply with a stricter regulatory framework, accompanied by substantial penalties.
Below is a clear and practical overview of the applicable obligations, even for mandates signed before 19 November 2024 (the date the Le Meur Law came into force).
Municipal Registration
Since the effective implementation of this system, any property offered for seasonal rental must hold a registration number issued by the local municipality. This number must appear on all listings, whether published on platforms, agency websites, or any other commercial medium.
This obligation applies to all properties, including those already operated prior to November 2024. The absence of a registration number or an incorrect declaration may result in a fine of up to €10,000, increasing to €20,000 in the event of a false declaration.
Please note that when rental management is entrusted to Agence des Alpes, this procedure is handled directly by our services.
Energy Performance (DPE) — Existing Properties
Properties rated F or G that were already rented prior to November 2024 benefit from a tolerance period until 1 January 2034. During this period:
- The renewal of an F or G-rated DPE remains permitted if the property was registered as a furnished tourist rental with the municipality before the Le Meur Law came into force;
- Mandates renewed by tacit agreement do not invalidate this tolerance;
- There is no immediate obligation to withdraw the property from the rental market.
However, as of 1 January 2034, only properties rated A to D may be offered for rental, including furnished tourist rentals. Properties rated F or G will then need to undergo energy renovation works or be withdrawn from the market.
👉 This deadline therefore requires strategic consideration regarding the long-term value and sustainability of the existing property portfolio.
Energy Performance (DPE) — New Furnished Rentals
The rules are significantly stricter for properties newly placed on the rental market after November 2024 (i.e. not registered with the municipality before 19 November 2024):
- Properties rated G have been immediately prohibited from seasonal rental since 19 November 2024;
- Properties rated F will be prohibited from rental as of 2028;
- Currently, a minimum DPE rating of F is required for any new property entering the rental market.
These rules do not apply retroactively to properties already rented before November 2024 but apply exclusively to properties newly declared as furnished tourist rentals with the municipality.
👉 In practice, a poorly rated property can no longer be added to a rental management portfolio without prior verification of its DPE.
Focus on DPE: Existing Properties vs. New Furnished Rentals — What You Really Need to Understand
Energy performance regulations for furnished tourist rentals now rely on a fundamental distinction between two categories of properties: existing stock and new furnished rentals. This distinction directly determines the right to rent, compliance timelines, and the owner’s obligations.
🏠 Key Principle: “Existing Properties on the Market”
A property is considered part of the existing stock if it was already operated as a furnished tourist rental before 19 November 2024, the date the Le Meur Law came into force.
This criterion is independent of:
- The date the mandate was signed;
- The date the DPE was carried out;
- Or even the existence of an initial DPE.
These properties benefit from a tolerance period until 1 January 2034, during which they may continue to be rented in their current condition, provided that renovation works are anticipated.
Missing DPE: An Immediate Obligation, Without Retroactive Effect
The law now makes the DPE mandatory for all furnished tourist rentals, including those within the existing stock.
A property previously rented without a DPE must therefore obtain one immediately. However, if the DPE rates the property as F or G, it remains eligible for rental until 2034, provided it was declared as a furnished tourist rental before November 2024.
The mayor may nevertheless request the DPE at any time, with a potential penalty of up to €100 per day in the event of failure to provide it.
👉 The issue is therefore not immediate prohibition, but rather traceability and medium-term risk management.
🚫 New Furnished Rentals: A much stricter framework
Conversely, new furnished tourist rentals properties entering the tourist rental market for the first time (first rental, change of use, new authorization) are subject to immediately restrictive rules.
Since 19 November 2024:
- G-rated properties are prohibited from being rented;
- F-rated properties will be prohibited from 2028;
- E-rated properties will be prohibited from 2034.
In these cases, the DPE rating becomes a prerequisite for market access, with no tolerance period.
A non-compliant property simply cannot be included in a tourist rental mandate without prior renovation works.
Failure to comply with these obligations may result in administrative and financial penalties.
Notification of the Condominium Manager (Syndic)
Since the effective implementation of this measure, owners of properties within a condominium must inform the syndic at the start of any seasonal rental activity.
This often underestimated obligation aims to ensure compliance with the condominium by-laws and to allow the syndic to anticipate potential impacts (use of common areas, insurance, disturbances).
While failure to comply does not automatically result in a fine, it exposes the owner to a real risk of civil action, particularly in the event of disputes with the condominium. This obligation fully applies to mandates signed before November 2024.
Maximum Rental Duration
Municipalities now have the authority to reduce the maximum annual rental duration of a principal residence to 90 days per year, compared to 120 days previously. This limitation applies as soon as a municipal decision is adopted, without the need for additional national legislation.
Tax Implications
The taxation of furnished tourist rentals is also evolving, with a reduction in applicable tax allowances, effective from 2024 for income received in 2025.
This change is particularly significant in mountain areas, where the tax regime is becoming less advantageous than before.
While seasonal rentals are not prohibited, this measure reduces net profitability and encourages a more detailed analysis of the economic model, especially for second homes.
Key Takeaways
Seasonal rentals are entering a new regulatory era, characterized by increased oversight, transparency, and environmental requirements. Contrary to popular belief, mandates signed before November 2024 are not exempt, even though certain temporary tolerance measures apply.
For both property owners and agencies, anticipation is now essential: administrative compliance, energy strategy, and tax planning are inseparable from the sustainable operation of furnished tourist rentals.
Anais.S
