French government publishes decree to control rent prices to create affordable housing and protect tenants in Paris
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The French government published a decree on April 5 paving the way for Paris to reintroduce citywide rent control, in a resounding victory for housing advocates.
France24 reports that the French capital first imposed limits on how much landlords could charge tenants for rent in 2015, in an effort to tackle the rapidly rising cost of housing. In 2017, a judge overturned the initiative on the grounds it should be applied throughout the region.
The government decree issued on April 5 brings into force legislation voted in November 2018 (known as the Elan law), which grants cities the right to impose rent control, under certain conditions, as a means to protect tenants and create more affordable housing.
Because Paris’s city council already approved a measure to reintroduce the practice in December, all that remains is for local authorities to set caps on how much landlords can charge.
Limits will only apply to new leases (first-time rentals or new tenants), while the price of rent will be calculated in euros per square metre, based on a property’s location.
Landlords will also be able to charge more than the mandated amount for special amenities, such as an elevator or a sweeping view of the Eiffel Tower. But individuals or companies found in violation of the city’s regulations risk a fine of up to €15,000.
