Real Estate

Leave a French Property to Rot and the Town Can Take It: the Constitutional Court Just Confirmed It

Own a French property and let it stand empty and crumbling? A commune can expropriate it on a fast-track procedure - and on 22 May 2026 the Conseil constitutionnel confirmed that procedure is constitutional.

Spotting a Fake French Tax Notice: How to Verify a Tenant’s Income Proof (2026)

Fake tax notices are a common rental-application scam. France gives landlords two free, official ways to check a tenant's avis d'imposition is genuine - the 2D-Doc barcode and the SVAIR online tool.

Renting Your Own French Home Short-Term: The Rules for a Primary Residence in 2026

Letting your own French home for a few weeks a year is legal, but tightly framed. Here are the 2026 rules: the 120-day cap, the new nationwide registration, and the tax that follows.

A Small Debt, a Whole Home: France Tightens the Rules on Disproportionate Property Seizure (Cour de cassation, 21 May 2026)

Can a creditor force-sell your French home over a debt that is small next to its value? On 21 May 2026 the Cour de cassation reset how judges must answer - and it cuts both ways.

The Jeanbrun Dispositif (Relance Logement): France’s New Property Tax Break for Landlords in 2026

France has revived property amortisation for the first time in a generation. Here is how the new Jeanbrun (Relance logement) regime lets landlords - residents and non-residents alike - write down up to 80% of a flat's price against their rental income.

Paris Is Doubling Its Vacant Property Tax: What British Investors Need to Know

Paris is doubling its vacant property tax from 2027, with first-year rates jumping from 17% to 30% and second-year rates from 34% to 60%. Here's what the new TVLH means for British investors with a Parisian pied-à-terre or buy-to-let.

Higher Caps, Looser Rules: Inside France’s 2026 Visale Refresh

France's free Visale rent guarantee got a meaningful refresh in January 2026 — higher rent caps (up to €1,940/month in Île-de-France), a looser income threshold, easier access for seasonal workers, and a new intergenerational cohabitation pilot. Here's what it means for landlords.

Holding Over, Paying Up: France’s Cour de cassation Strengthens Landlords’ Hand on the Security Deposit

France's Cour de cassation has confirmed that landlords can deduct the indemnité d'occupation from the security deposit when a tenant overstays — and the tenant can't dodge this by arguing prescription. Here's what the ruling says.

It’s Constitutional: France’s Highest Court Validates the Copropriété Airbnb Ban

The Conseil constitutionnel has ruled that French co-owners can vote by two-thirds majority to ban Airbnb-style tourist rentals in residential buildings. Here's what the decision means for British property investors.

Managing French Property Remotely: The Complete Guide for Non-Resident Owners

A comprehensive guide for non-resident owners on managing French rental property from abroad — covering tax obligations, social contributions, DPE regulations, hiring a property manager under the Loi Hoguet, copropriété management, and the practical systems that make remote ownership work.

The 10-Year Rule: How Good-Faith Buyers Can Secure Property Ownership in France

The prescription abrégée under Article 2272 lets good-faith buyers acquire full ownership in just 10 years — even if the seller wasn't the real owner. Here's how the juste titre and bonne foi conditions work, and what British property owners need to know.