In short
The “rental permit” (permis de louer) refers to two schemes that the inter-municipal authority responsible for housing or, failing that, the municipality can introduce in run-down housing areas (zones d’habitat dégradé): the declaration of letting (déclaration de mise en location), to be made within 15 days of signing the lease, and the prior letting authorisation (autorisation préalable de mise en location), to be obtained before letting (Code de la construction et de l’habitation (Construction and Housing Code, CCH), art. L634-1 et seq., L635-1 et seq.). They apply to every new tenant, for unfurnished and furnished lets alike. Without a declaration, the fine can reach €5,000; without authorisation, €5,000, then €15,000 for a repeat offence within 3 years or for letting despite a refusal (service-public.gouv.fr).
Who decides, and where does it apply?
There is no national list: each inter-municipal authority responsible for housing or, failing that, each municipal council marks out the areas concerned by a formal decision, in sectors with a high proportion of run-down housing (CCH, art. L635-1). For prior authorisation, the decision may target only certain “categories and characteristics of homes” (our translation) and sets an entry-into-force date “which may not be set at less than six months from publication of the decision” (art. L635-1); the same minimum six-month period applies to the declaration (art. L634-1). The decision is sent to the caisse d’allocations familiales (family allowance fund, CAF) and to the MSA (agricultural social insurance fund) (art. L635-2).
To find out whether a home is in one of these areas, ask the town hall (mairie) or the inter-municipal authority. Homes under an agreement with the Anah (national housing agency) and social housing follow other rules (service-public.gouv.fr). An investor buying to let therefore has every interest in asking the town hall before signing, since the two schemes do not have the same scope: the declaration is made after the lease is signed, whereas authorisation is a condition of letting itself.
When the procedure is not required. Neither declaration nor authorisation is required for a renewal or tacit extension of the lease, nor for drafting an amendment (avenant) (service-public.gouv.fr).
The declaration of letting
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 15 days after signing the lease |
| Form | Cerfa no. 15651, together with the dossier de diagnostic technique (technical survey file) |
| Filing | By post or in person, at the town hall or inter-municipal authority; some municipalities accept email |
| Reply | Receipt within the week if the file is complete; otherwise, an acknowledgement listing the missing documents and the deadline for providing them |
| Afterwards | Copy of the receipt to be given to the tenant |
Source: service-public.gouv.fr. If the deadline set for completing the file is not met, a new declaration must be filed.
Housing benefit. Direct payment to the landlord of the tenant’s housing benefit (tiers payant) depends on producing the receipt to the CAF or the MSA (CCH, art. L634-3; service-public.gouv.fr).
Prior letting authorisation
The owner, or their representative (notaire, estate agent), files cerfa no. 15652 and the technical survey file at the town hall or inter-municipal authority, which issues an acknowledgement of receipt (service-public.gouv.fr).
- Response time: 1 month from filing. In the absence of an express decision within that period, silence “counts as prior letting authorisation” (CCH, art. L635-4).
- Possible inspection of the home during the review, between 6am and 9pm if occupied; if the occupant refuses, the inspection requires the authorisation of the juge des libertés et de la détention (liberty and custody judge).
- Three possible decisions: authorisation; authorisation subject to prior works or alterations; a reasoned refusal, which states the work to be carried out and is sent to the CAF, the MSA and the tax authorities.
- Refusal is mandatory if the building is subject to an unfitness (insalubrité) or danger (péril) order.
The authorisation must be attached to the lease at each new letting (art. L635-5). It is valid for one letting within the 2 years following its issue; beyond that, a new one must be requested (service-public.gouv.fr).
Sale or gift of the let home. The buyer or recipient declares the transfer of the authorisation still in force using cerfa no. 15663; the transfer takes effect on the date the application is filed (service-public.gouv.fr).
Penalties and effects on the lease
| Breach | Maximum fine |
|---|---|
| Letting without a declaration | €5,000 |
| Letting without applying for authorisation | €5,000 |
| Authorisation: further breach within 3 years | €15,000 |
| Letting despite a refusal of authorisation | €15,000 |
Sources: CCH, art. L634-4 and L635-7; service-public.gouv.fr.
Once informed of a breach, the mayor or the president of the inter-municipal authority gives the owner 1 month to justify their situation or regularise it by sending a copy of the filing receipt (service-public.gouv.fr).
The tenant is not penalised. The lack of a declaration “has no effect on the lease” (art. L634-3), nor does letting without prior authorisation (art. L635-8): the signed lease remains valid.
FAQ
I am renewing my lease with the same tenant: do I have to go through the procedure again?
No. Renewal, tacit extension and amendments to the lease are exempt; only letting to a new tenant is subject to it (service-public.gouv.fr).
The town hall has not replied to my application for authorisation: can I let?
Yes. Without an express decision within one month of filing, authorisation is deemed granted (CCH, art. L635-4).
My authorisation is 18 months old and the home is still empty: is it valid?
Yes, it is valid for one letting within 2 years of its issue. After that, a new application must be filed (service-public.gouv.fr).
Does the rental permit apply to furnished lets?
Yes, the declaration covers homes “to be let unfurnished or furnished” according to service-public.gouv.fr. For the rules specific to furnished lets, see the bail de location meublée (furnished lease).
Does the rental permit replace the decency check?
No. It comes on top of the obligation to let a logement décent (decent home) and of the rules on zone tendue (high-demand zone) or encadrement des loyers (rent control) that apply in some municipalities.
Which professional to consult
An agent immobilier (estate agent) instructed for the letting can file the application for authorisation on the owner’s behalf and attach the authorisation to the bail (lease). The application requires a complete technical survey file: a certified diagnostiqueur (property surveyor) carries it out. When buying a let home in a prior-authorisation area, the buyer must declare the transfer of the authorisation still in force: a point to plan with the notaire (notary) handling the sale.
Find a professional
One professional per trade and per area, selected and scored out of 100 from public data, with a verifiable title. The trade, its official register and the professionals selected (pages in French):
The real estate agent selected in the largest cities
| City | Professional | Area | Score /100 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | Laforêt Paris 15 Vaugirard | Paris, 15e arrondissement | 89 | Selected |
| Marseille | ERA Agence de la Bastide | Marseille, 13e arrondissement | 90 | Selected |
| Toulouse | Nestenn By Solvimo | Toulouse | 84 | Selected |
| Nice | Immo Gambetta | Nice | 71 | Selected |
| Lyon | Orpi Duguesclin Transactions | Lyon, 6e arrondissement | 89 | Selected |
| Montpellier | Immo Angels | Montpellier | 80 | Selected |
| Bordeaux | Human Immobilier Bordeaux Chartrons | Bordeaux | 90 | Selected |
| Lille | Orpi Lille République Beaux-Arts | Lille | 92 | Selected |
| Rennes | Nestenn Rennes Centre | Rennes | 80 | Selected |
| Toulon | iBox Immobilier Toulon Jaurès | Toulon | 84 | Selected |
The 10 cities with the most sales (DVF 2025) where a real estate agent is selected; in a city with several areas, the best-scoring profile. "Verified": title read at the register by Payotte; "Selected": title declared, verifiable on the profile.
Related guides
Sources
- Peut-on mettre en location un logement dans une zone d'habitat dégradé ou indigne ? (service-public.gouv.fr, vérifié le 5 novembre 2024) (checked 11 October 2026)
- Code de la construction et de l'habitation, articles L634-1 à L634-5 – déclaration de mise en location (Légifrance) (checked 11 October 2026)
- Code de la construction et de l'habitation, articles L635-1 à L635-11 – autorisation préalable de mise en location, dont L635-1, L635-3 et L635-7 en vigueur depuis le 11 avril 2024 (Légifrance) (checked 11 October 2026)
- Habitat insalubre (ou habitat indigne) (service-public.gouv.fr, vérifié le 12 juillet 2024) (checked 11 October 2026)
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