Concerns about Apartment Rentals in Paris?

We have lived in Paris (as well as other European cities and Beijing, China) and we are there every year. We prefer to rent apartments but love luxury hotels as well. Here is how the law stands- they are cracking up on non-licensed rentals because they do not pay taxes properly (if at all) and the licensed providers and hotels are losing business due to people renting out their private apartments and are unfair competition.

You can rent an apartment in Paris for more than 4 months legally two ways-

(1) If the apartment building has a vacancy and you apply for an apartment like any other tenant. They legally sell space to Parisians and long term visitors just like apartment complexes in the USA do and they pay their taxes.

(2) Use a licensed apartment provider that pays its taxes. Our favorite is called Paris Perfect and they have apartments available all over the city at various prices. They are licensed and unaffected by changes. You can find their site at www.parisperfect.com

Fortunately, I don't have first hand experience in this.

But from what I've read and seen on the news:
Yes, your concerns are valid. This has been in the news the last few months. For renting apartments in Paris, it's no longer just "business as usual."
Apparently even the office of the Mayor of Paris has gotten involved. I think they said something like: "we don't want the historic core of Paris to be taken over by tourists, especially if the people they're renting from aren't paying taxes on the rental income."

Also, it was said that the neighbors in these apartments were complaining to the authorities about the constant influx/outflux of transient tenants using the apartments for a short period of time.

We here, wouldn't hear, much about this from posters on this forum, but there is information out there.
We used to have a Paris local who was a regular here, but not anymore.
Maybe Tripadvisors would have some info.

What I've heard is there have been a number of American tourists who had rental contracts and paid their 50% deposit, then they get an email or letter saying: so sorry, the rental is cancelled because the landlord's rental operation was caught in the crackdown.

What I'm doing: We're going to be in Paris for 11 days in a few months and we decided not to rent because of the legal uncertainties, and also in our case, the fact that the two of us only use a Paris lodging for sleeping, it's not like we hang around during the day when we could be out seeing and doing things, and we don't want to do our own cooking in an apartment kitchenette, because part of our reason for our being in Paris is so some professional French chef can prepare that wonderful French cooking for us in restaurants.

Probably it would be ok--but you are absolutely right that there has been a recent and significant change in legal circumstances that could affect you. When it comes to renting apartments in Paris, it's not just "business and usual" or "just like it used to be."

Probably it would work out ok for you, but for myself, I didn't want someone (even an intermedicary) to have 50% of my money and then get a letter out of the blue and then find out how that works, and trying to get a hotel in Paris on short notice, etc.

I am concerned that I may be unduly alarmist over this. You can research this for yourelf on the web. Click Google and then choose News to get the most recent news on the Paris rental crackdown. Perhaps you'll decide to go for it, on the assumption that it will probably be okay (if they didn't have 1/2 your money....).

In addition to neighbors' complaints, it's linked to the huge backlog of people waiting for housing in Paris and the huge number of apartments that sit vacant. Owners hold onto property in France, particularly Paris. Many don't want permanent renters due to the strict laws protecting renters. For example, friends of ours live in a Haussmann building that has only two apartments occupied year-round. The rest are inheritances, used from time to time by the owners: weekends, maybe.

The city wants these empty apartments back in permanent housing stock and not empty, nor vacation rentals. That said, I'll still rent an apartment next time I'm in Paris, if still possible, but only because we are there to visit family and friends when we go. If I were sightseeing, I'd probably do like Kent.

Your other post says you are there for only four nights. You may want to consider if it is worth it to buy coffee and other staples that you'll need in an apartment, if it's for only four nights.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your thoughtful replies and helping me understand the facts.

We are there for four nights but we are four friends, not two couples. Staying together we thought would be cheaper than two double hotel rooms, plus the opportunity to bring in snacks, etc. The apartments also seemed more charming.

Thank you again for your responses.

There are an awful lot of apartments for the Mayor's task force to weed through. The chances of having a problem is small, and in any event you won't be put out on the street once you are in the apartment. The biggest potential problem would be if the owner is notified, either by the Mairie or by other owners in the building, that rentals must stop. You would then receive word (hopefully) that something's come up and the unit is no longer available. Again, I believe the chance is small; the best defense is to use well known reliable rental agencies, such as Paribestlodge or VIP. I don't recall when your trip is, but the good ones are snapped up often 8-12 months out-though it's not always the case.
If you're locked in, move forward, and don't worry.

I rented 2 apartments in November 2014 through vrbo. I had no issues. One apartment had a website where I paid. They also recommended an airport pick up, 55 Euros only, which was great. The other apartment, also vrbo, was a private owner. I had to pay through a bank deposit. I had no problems at all.

I also rented an apartment near Nice and am arranging another for this October. Both insist in payment directly through their bank. I think the damage deposit was paid in cash to the person who let me in; it was returned by the same person on check out.

Perhaps I have been lucky. I try to choose apartments with quite a few reviews. I did luck out once in a rental, with either 1 or no reviews. I decided on a short notice trip, perhaps a month before departure, my first vrbo experience. I had no problem, but it was a 3rd floor walkup, which ended up to be good exercise but my freind who came with me had knee problems. We did not go in and out often!

I think the number of reviews is a consideration. Enjoy Paris, my favorite place in the world!

Thank you, Dave and June, good to have your thoughts as well. We are 4 months out and nothing reserved just yet.. hoping to finalize soon. As you say, the very best options are probably taken.

Four nights.. four ladies.. one bathroom.. yuck. Most two bedroom apartments don't have two bathrooms.. those that do are not cheap.

Get two hotel rooms.. I still snack in mine.. and you will spend way more time outside hotel room then in.. ( why spend time in apartment with no views( cause views are expensive!) when you could be sitting out having a picnic of wine and extras.. looking at the Siene, ET or enjoying numerous parks.

I have rented apartments in Paris.. and stayed in apartments in Paris( family and friends) and will continue to do so.. but I simply don't bother renting for less then a week,, and I don't find it any more romantic or atmospheric then a hotel room ( where they change my towels every day and make my bed,, nice bonus) .. and as I said.. for me.. the atmosphere is OUTSIDE ..

Now.. if you have a generous budget you may be able to find a two bed two bath apartment with views.. and air condition( a must for summer visits as many years of summer visits have taught me)... but for an affordable apartment you simply won't get all those options any cheaper then two hotel rooms.

Here's a recent update about this issue. http://www.connexionfrance.com/paris-renting-apartment-illegal-short-term-and-holiday-lets-10756-news-article.html

Oh no! Sorry. I just noticed that article was written in 2010. But that information holds true in 2015. The mayor is cracking down on enforcing the law. It is highly controversial of course. Apartment owners view it as an infringement of their right to make money on their investments. Those of us who live here hope the law will succeed. Having your formerly quiet apartment house turned into a hotel is unpleasant. And most coop apartments have clauses prohibiting short-term rentals. To be safe, I would look at appart'hotels (Citadine, for example). citadine.com

"Having your formerly quiet apartment house turned into a hotel is
unpleasant." (from Terry, a Paris resident, in the post immediately
above)

Terry,
I can certainly understand that.
Thank you for giving us confirmation from a Paris resident of what the current situation is.

Here is an article from 2014 that IMO discusses the varying views: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30580295. In sum though, the vast majority of vacation rentals are not in compliance with current French law. Some vacationers will rent anyway and take the chance, which is probably slim for this year given the number of inspectors and the number of rentals, that their rentals will be canceled. Others will say no either because they are unwilling to take the risk or do not want to aid in violations of law. One thing to know is that the law does not speak to the vacation renter meaning that it does not call for fines levied against the vacationer or say that it is illegal to rent a vacation apartment. Think of it as being like housing codes. It's not illegal for a tenant to rent an apartment with a major code violation but it is illegal for the landlord to rent it and if there is a complaint made and inspectors get involved, the innocent tenant will not have a place to live. I have a friend who owns an apartment in Paris that she rents through an agency and she has no intention of stopping unless she is stopped by the authorities. She plans to retire in France and needs the rental income to afford the property. I have another friend who lives in Paris and used to manage vacation properties who says that her business is way off because her pied a terre owners are all selling their apartments. So, I think that right now, the situation is in flux.