Rent Control in Paris: What Could Change After November 24, 2026

Will Paris rent control disappear on November 24, 2026? Fairway reviews reference rents, the legislation under discussion and the practical implications for landlords.

Article updated September 25, 2026.

No, rents will not necessarily become freely set in Paris from November 25, 2026.

However, an important legal deadline is approaching: the Paris system based on reference rents is due to expire, in its current form, on November 24, 2026.

A bill aimed at making rent control permanent is still being examined by Parliament. And even if this system were to disappear, other rules would continue to limit certain rent increases in Paris.

For a landlord considering renting or re-renting an apartment in the coming months, the situation therefore needs to be assessed carefully.

Does Paris rent control really end on November 24, 2026?

The current system governing rent levels was introduced on an experimental basis by the ELAN Law of November 23, 2018.

It has applied in Paris since July 1, 2019.

For covered rentals, the rent is determined using a reference rent, a reduced reference rent and an increased reference rent.

The reference rent depends in particular on:

• the neighborhood ;
• the number of main rooms ;
• the building's construction period ;
• whether the property is rented unfurnished or furnished.

In principle, the base rent stated in the lease may not exceed the increased reference rent, except for a possible rent supplement that meets the legal requirements.

The experiment established by the ELAN Law is due to expire in November 2026.

This is why the order applicable in Paris in 2026 was exceptionally issued only for the period from July 1 to November 24, 2026.

As of today, Service-Public confirms that covered Paris properties subject to a residential or mobility lease signed or renewed through November 24, 2026 remain subject to this mechanism.

Does this mean rents will be freely set from November 25?

Non.

This is precisely where the main misunderstanding lies.

If no new legislation were adopted, the experimental system based on reference rents would indeed come to an end.

However, a bill aimed in particular at removing the temporary nature of the system was adopted by the National Assembly on December 11, 2025.

The bill has been transmitted to the Senate, which is due to consider it in plenary session on October 21, 2026.

As of September 25, 2026, it is therefore not possible to state that rent control will actually disappear in Paris.

The rules applicable after November 24 will depend on the legislation ultimately adopted by Parliament.

Two Different Rent-Control Mechanisms Currently Apply in Paris

To understand what could actually change, it is necessary to distinguish between two mechanisms.

Capping the rent level

This is the system generally meant when people refer to “rent control in Paris.”

It requires compliance with an increased reference rent calculated per square metre.

This is the mechanism currently due to expire on November 24, 2026.

Limits on rent increases in high-demand areas

This is a different mechanism.

Because Paris is classified as a high-demand area, certain rent increases are limited when a property is re-let or a lease is renewed.

This mechanism was extended by the decree of July 20, 2026 for a further period running until July 31, 2027.

Even if the reference-rent cap were to disappear, this would not necessarily allow a landlord to set any new rent without restrictions.

Practical Example: An Apartment Re-Listed in the 17th Arrondissement

Consider a landlord who wants to re-let a three-room apartment in Paris's 17th arrondissement.

If the new lease is signed in October or early November 2026, the landlord must still check the increased reference rent applicable to the apartment.

Celui-ci dépendra notamment the neighborhood dans lequel se trouve le bien, de son année de construction, du nombre de pièces et whether the property is rented unfurnished or furnished.

The landlord must also examine the previous rent and the rules applicable to re-letting in a high-demand area.

If the same apartment is re-let after November 24, 2026, the situation may be different.

It will then be necessary to determine:

• whether Parliament has made reference-rent controls permanent ;
• which final provisions have been adopted ;
• what the previous rent was ;
• whether the re-letting allows that rent to be changed ;
• whether other restrictions apply to the property.

The lease-signing date can therefore become an important factor, but it is not by itself enough to determine the future rent.

Can Rent Be Increased After November 24, 2026?

Not automatically.

Even if the increased reference rent were to disappear, the rules applicable to high-demand areas would currently continue to regulate certain increases until July 31, 2027.

A landlord must therefore also consider the property's rental history.

In practice, an apartment that has been vacant for several years, one that was recently rented, and a property being rented for the first time are not necessarily in the same situation.

This is why the possible removal of the per-square-metre cap should not be confused with a general freedom to set rents.

Should You Wait Until December 2026 to Rent Out Your Apartment?

Delaying a rental solely in the hope that rent control will disappear would be risky.

As of September 25, 2026, the rules applicable after November 24 have not yet been definitively settled.

The Senate is due to examine the bill on October 21, 2026, roughly one month before the current expiry date.

A landlord must also take the cost of a rental vacancy into account.

For example, deliberately leaving an apartment vacant for one month when it could rent for €3,000 per month already represents €3,000 in lost rental income.

Any potential future increase in rent should therefore be weighed against the actual cost of waiting, without prejudging what the legislature will ultimately decide.

What About a Rent Supplement?

Today, certain apartments may qualify for a rent supplement allowing the increased reference rent to be exceeded, provided the regulatory conditions are met.

It must be based on specific location or comfort characteristics compared with similar properties.

If the current reference-rent system disappeared without being replaced, its relationship with the rent supplement would necessarily change.

However, it will be necessary to wait for the definitive regime applicable after November 2026 before drawing a practical conclusion for a new lease.

Which Properties Are Covered by Paris Rent Control?

Rent-level controls apply in particular to rentals constituting the tenant's main residence and subject to the law of July 6, 1989, as well as mobility leases covered by the system.

In Paris, the cap varies according to the characteristics of each property.

Two apartments of the same size in the same arrondissement can therefore have different reference rents depending on their neighborhood, number of rooms, construction period, or rental type.

Determining the applicable rent therefore requires an address-by-address and property-by-property assessment.

Is a Lease Signed Before November 24 Still Covered?

For a lease covered by the system and signed or renewed before the current expiry date, the rules applicable when it was concluded must be respected.

The prospect of a possible reform a few weeks later therefore does not allow the legal disappearance of the cap to be anticipated.

For a rental carried out today, the applicable reference rents should continue to be calculated and stated correctly.

What Paris Landlords Should Remember

As of September 25, 2026:

• reference rents remain applicable in Paris until November 24, 2026 for covered contracts ;
• the experimental system established by the ELAN Law, in its current form, expires on that date ;
• a bill aimed at making it permanent has already been adopted by the National Assembly ;
• the Senate is due to examine the bill on October 21, 2026 ;
• even if the increased reference rent disappeared, Paris would remain subject to other rules governing rent changes, currently extended until July 31, 2027.