Puis-je sous-louer mon logement sur Airbnb si je suis locataire ?

Pas sans l’autorisation explicite du propriétaire ou du bailleur. La location de courte durée reste en principe réservée aux propriétaires du logement. Sans cet accord, vous êtes en sous-location illégale, même si l’annonce tourne depuis des mois sans incident.

Qu’est-ce qui compte exactement comme sous-location illégale ?

Le fait de louer un logement sur Airbnb sans l’autorisation explicite du propriétaire ou du bailleur initial. Cela peut heurter les termes du bail, mais aussi les règles locales sur le zonage et la location de courte durée. Deux jeux de règles à vérifier, donc, et pas un seul.

Mon bailleur peut-il m’expulser s’il découvre l’annonce ?

Oui. Sous-louer sans permission constitue une rupture du contrat de bail, et le bailleur peut engager une expulsion pour non-respect des conditions de location. S’y ajoutent souvent la perte du dépôt de garantie et les pénalités prévues au contrat.

Qui paie si un voyageur casse quelque chose ?

Le locataire initial, le plus souvent : c’est lui qui est tenu responsable des dommages causés par ses sous-locataires. Les sous-locataires non autorisés ne sont en général pas couverts par l’assurance du logement, donc la facture n’est prise en charge par personne. Le propriétaire peut lui aussi se retrouver mis en cause en cas de litige.

Combien coûte une sous-location illégale ?

Cela dépend de la gravité de l’infraction et des règles locales en vigueur. Les amendes vont de quelques centaines à plusieurs milliers d’euros, sans compter les frais d’une procédure judiciaire, longue et coûteuse. Les quelques nuits gagnées ne compensent jamais ce calcul.

Les plaintes des voisins peuvent-elles déclencher un contrôle ?

Elles y contribuent souvent. Une sous-location non autorisée perturbe la tranquillité de l’immeuble, et les plaintes remontent vite à la copropriété ou aux autorités locales. Le litige commence alors avec le voisinage, avant d’arriver sur le terrain juridique.

Illegal Airbnb sublets: risks and penalties

4 min readBy the StyQR team

1What is illegal subletting on Airbnb?
2The risks for tenants
3The risks for owners
4Frequently asked questions

Listing a property as a short-term rental on Airbnb is subject to rules that are brought to the host's attention as soon as they log in to the platform. Sadly, however, more and more people are abusing those rules without realising the needless risks they are taking.

What is illegal subletting on Airbnb?

It is important to understand exactly what is meant by illegal subletting on Airbnb. Put simply, it happens when someone rents out a property on Airbnb without the explicit permission of the owner or the original landlord. This may breach the terms of the tenancy agreement, or even local zoning and short-term letting laws. That is why renting out a property on a short-term basis is generally only lawful for owners.

Hands examining a contract with a magnifying glass beside a wooden house and bank card

The risks for tenants

Breach of tenancy agreement

When you sublet without permission, you risk a breach of your tenancy agreement. Landlords can lawfully evict you for failing to comply with the terms of the let.

Legal liability

If there is a problem with the subtenants or damage to the property, the original tenant is often held liable. This can lead to significant financial costs and legal complications.

Loss of your deposit

If your tenancy agreement states that subletting is prohibited, you could lose your deposit and face additional fines for breach of contract.

The risks for owners

Hand holding a judge's gavel above wooden blocks spelling the word PENALTY

Insurance and liability

Unauthorised subtenants are generally not covered by the property's insurance. In the event of damage or a dispute, the owner could be held liable.

Fines and legal proceedings

Breaching local zoning or short-term letting regulations can lead to substantial fines and court proceedings, which are often costly and time-consuming. Fines can range from a few hundred to several thousand euros, depending on the seriousness of the offence and the local regulations in force. The figure usually quoted is a fine of 50 000 € for each person involved, which therefore includes both the owner and the original tenant of the property.

Problems with the neighbours

Illegal sublets can disturb the neighbours' peace and quiet, which can lead to complaints and disputes with the local authorities or the residents' association. In short, illegal subletting on Airbnb carries significant risks for both tenants and owners. If you do things by the book, however, you can enjoy the benefits of short-term letting legally and responsibly. Would you like to know more about Airbnb regulations? Take a look at our article on how to create house rules for your Airbnb

This table sums up who risks what, so you can grasp the essentials at a glance.

Party involved	Risk incurred	Consequence
Tenant	Breach of lease	Eviction for breach of tenancy terms
Tenant	Legal liability for damages	Financial costs and legal complications
Tenant	Subletting banned by the lease	Loss of security deposit and fines
Landlord	Subtenants not covered by insurance	Liability for damages or disputes
Landlord and tenant	Violation of zoning or short-term rental rules	Fine of up to €50,000 per person involved
Landlord	Neighbour complaints	Disputes with the co-ownership or local authorities

Frequently asked questions

Can I sublet my home on Airbnb as a tenant? Not without the explicit permission of the owner or landlord. Short-term letting is in principle reserved for the owners of the property. Without that agreement you are subletting illegally, even if the listing has been running for months without a hitch.

What actually counts as an illegal sublet? Renting out a home on Airbnb without the explicit permission of the owner or original landlord. It can breach the terms of the lease, and also the local rules on zoning and short-term rentals. Two sets of rules to check, then, not one.

Can my landlord evict me if they find the listing? Yes. Subletting without permission breaks the lease, and the landlord can lawfully start an eviction for failing to respect the rental conditions. The loss of the deposit and the penalties written into the contract often come on top.

Who pays if a guest breaks something? Usually the original tenant, who is held responsible for the damage caused by their subtenants. Unauthorised subtenants are generally not covered by the property insurance, so no one picks up the bill. The owner can also be drawn into the dispute.

How much does an illegal sublet cost? It depends on how serious the breach is and on the local rules that apply. Fines run from a few hundred to several thousand euros, before the cost of legal proceedings that are long and expensive. The few nights earned never make up for it.

Can complaints from neighbours trigger a check? They often play a part. An unauthorised sublet disturbs the peace of the building, and complaints quickly reach the residents’ association or the local authorities. The dispute starts with the neighbours before it reaches the legal stage.

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