Paris: Where do you find a 13 digit registration number on airbnb?

That's a very good question. I looked at a few listings and did not see one, though I have read accounts elsewhere from those who have seen them in a listing. There is this in the AirBnB Help section-intended for hosts, (my bolding):

"Some cities require that hosts obtain a license or registration number in order to list their homes on Airbnb. This field allows hosts to display that number directly on their listing to comply with local laws. It is important to note that not all cities require that hosts register, nor are all hosts required to register, so the absence of a number is not necessarily indicative of a non-compliant host.

In some cities you might also see “City registration pending” in this field. This means that the host has started the registration process with a city, but has not been granted a license or registration number yet. These listings are still perfectly fine to book."

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1634/what-is-the-license-or-registration-number-field

There is also this interesting page, intended apparently for Paris hosts:

https://france.airbnbcitizen.com/registration-in-paris-all-you-need-to-know/

Finally, over on TA there is this thread, with lots of helpful info from the reliably even-keeled Sarastro:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k10757778-Illegal_Airbnb_rentals-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

The registration number should be available when you click on a listing under where it says +More. Look at this listing as an example: https://tinyurl.com/y84w9rov But, fair warning: I did a search on AirBnB today for an apartment as a test and I found the number only in 1 of the 6 listings I looked at, but then again December 1 is the date that the requirement becomes effective so maybe everyone is still in the process of getting their numbers.

Excellent, thanks JHK.

In the same vein, has anybody seen a VRBO or Homeaway listing showing the registration number?

Thank you very much! After knowing where to look, I went through over 100 listings and only found 2 with a number! I have messaged the host of the airbnb apartment I have rented for late December to inquire about his number. I'd hate to get there and find out I'm out of luck, but also don't want to cancel hastily right now and end up in a hotel I don't like as much.

Many property owners will be selling their apartments at the end of the year. Typically, this takes between 3 and 6 months to do.
Rather than risk heavy fines, and if people have an apartment for rent, they may still apply for the registration number before December 2017.
If you do not see a 13-digit registration number on the website, it is illegal.
That's all you have to know.

Once the 13 digit number is located, is it safe to assume the apartment is legit? Or is there a way to confirm it through a governing website? I hate to assume the worst, but couldn't a shady character just make up a 13 digit number?

As a private owner in Dijon, this thread caught my attention as I've been renting out for 12 years now. Actually I was concerned as I don't have a number, so earlier today, I asked the town hall where I've been paying my visitor tax for 12 years and they told me that only big cities over 200.000 people have to give owners a registration number. So obviously Paris (Lyon Marseille and other big towns) owners should provide theirs on their ads.

I'm on Airbnb and VRBO but those websites never asked me to add a registration number on my ads probably because they know I don't have one. Instead of saying "some cities require a number" they should say which ones!

When I look for a vacation rental and I find a place that looks nice, I always try to find out if there is a proper website so I'm sure it is legit and I skip Airbnb or Vrbo outrageous fees. Some of my guests found me that way, saved a lot and spent it at a good restaurant instead!

No.
The property owner fills out a form, which can only include the 13-digit registration number, which is linked to his financial information. There's only enough space for 13 digits.

AirBnB is supposed to have a registration number on their websites.

So there's no way to just type in a random number? The thought had crossed my mind as well. We are flying a long way to get to Paris and don't want a problem immediately upon arrival! I canceled an airbnb that didn't have a number (and the owner had a lot of mixed stories as to why) and was able to secure one with a number clearly posted on their listing.

It seems that some categories of rentals are exempt from the registration. When I tried to dig into which ones, the French got too complex for me. If they don't rent more than a certain number of nights per year, or if they are a bed-and-breakfast??

There is no chance that if you find the 13-digit registration number on a website, it is a legal apartment. Consider yourself lucky to have found 2 of them.

/Many property owners will be selling their apartments at the end of the year. Typically, this takes between 3 and 6 months to do./

Does this portend a general reduction in the price of apartments in Paris?

@wbfey: do you mean for purchasers of real estate, or for persons seeking to rent an apartment for a few days for a vacation visit to Paris?.

With Brexit and the preponderance of others who wish to put money in "safe" locations, I don't think Paris property prices in general will go down. Some areas of the city maybe, other areas will rise more substantially.

The rental charges for legal apartments will rise gradually to approach the cost of hotels. Market forces. Unknown is the effect hotels who modernize their facilities to offer more Airbnb like comforts will have on the market. Already more and more apartment hotels are entering the market. Interesting to watch.

The realtor Lodgis reports an increase in those renting their apartments furnished under "regular" leases, thus restoring some of these properties to the normal apartment rental market. . . .one of the intents of the law.

It seems that some categories of rentals are exempt from the registration. When I tried to dig into which ones, the French got too complex for me. If they don't rent more than a certain number of nights per year, or if they are a bed-and-breakfast??

There are a few chambres d´hôtes businesses advertising on Airbnb and chambres d´hôtes operate under a different set of regulations than do rental apartments and do not need to display a registration number. Some ground floor apartments can operate as vacation rentals without restriction but I am not clear as to the requirement for them to be officially registered or not.

On the whole, these exceptions are few and probably in the grand scheme of things, statistically insignificant.

/@wbfey: do you mean for purchasers of real estate, or for persons seeking to rent an apartment for a few days for a vacation visit to Paris?/

I mean for the potential purchase of a pied de terre....;-)

The co-propriete as a whole must vote to agree to the status of a commercial "rez-de-chausee" apartment. It may be that the whole building must convert the tax status to commercial, which many won't want to do that.
Usually, this is the gardienne's former apartment, and someone else takes out the trash.

Any rental apartment has to have the 13-digit registration number on its website, which is tied to the property owner's financial information.
If you do not live permanently in the apartment for 245 days a year, you might run into trouble with the tax man.

As to the subject of property prices in Paris, there is a rental ceiling protecting the residents.
Not so the tourists, who might pay over and above what is legal.

There are regular BnB residents which will host families. But there are restrictions, such as locked doors, a window in every room, and/or a shared bath and whether you can use the kitchen facilities and laundry. The proprietors must be present to offer tourist information.

There is an arrondissement - specific page which stipulates the highest and lowest apartments, based on the metre carre. They are the 6th, 8th and 2nd.

"If you do not live permanently in the apartment for 245 days a year, you might run into trouble with the tax man."

You won't have any trouble if the property is not rented out illegally. However, the city of Paris has gradually been increasing a second tax placed on residences secondaires. Last year the additional amount was 600 Euros per unit regardless of size or location. The city of Paris voted for an increase to 3000 Euros a year but that has not been approved by the French parliament.

Anyhoo, Paris real estate prices didn't suffer the dip that so many places did, because there was never any bubble here. Those old Haussmannian stones hold their value - no bargains to be found.

Are bed and breakfasts, such as those on the Alcôves & Agapes website (http://www.bed-and-breakfast-in-paris.com/Dicillin.php?), exempt from this new registration law? Are they considered chambres d'hôte?

Yes.
They must satisfy the Mayor's Office - in which there is a signed contract for the host and guest.

They are: locking doors, a window in every room, a shared/or other bathroom, kitchen privileges (up to the host).
The host must supply tourist information if asked for, and will serve a Continental breakfast.

There should be a 13-digit registration number on the website.
Do not be confused with the Mayor's Office of Tourisme - it's paid advertisement.