Renting out furnished accommodation? Thinking of investing in rental property? So you’ve probably heard of the famous Le Meur law, the latest addition to the already dense jungle of real estate regulations. Promulgated in 2025, this law aims to bring some order to the very (too?) dynamic short-term furnished rental sector. Spoiler: Airbnb and investors looking for easy returns won’t be jumping for joy.
📜 What exactly is the Le Meur law?
The Le Meur law, named after the French deputy Annaïg Le Meur, provides a stricter framework for furnished tourist rentals, particularly in areas where housing for permanent residents is scarce.
The aim? To limit the abuse of furnished rentals, particularly in large cities such as Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux, where whole sections of buildings are being transformed into illegal hotels, to the detriment of local residents.
🛠️ What the Le Meur law changes in concrete terms
Before the Le Meur law, renting a furnished apartment for a few days on a platform such as Airbnb, Abritel or Booking was almost child’s play. Now there are a few new obstacles to overcome:
- Reduction in authorized rental periods: in high-tension areas, the maximum rental period is reduced from 120 to 90 days per year for a principal residence.
- More stringent reporting requirements: all properties rented out furnished must now be reported to the local council, even outside the most densely populated areas.
- Change of tax regime: end of the LMNP regime, which is ultra-advantageous for multiple owners; tax standardization is planned to reduce differences with bare rental.
- Penalties for non-compliance: violators can be fined up to €15,000!
🔍 Why was this law necessary?
Because the furnished seasonal rental market had literally exploded, to the point of creating major real estate tensions in some cities. By converting properties intended for local residents into short-term rentals for tourists, many landlords have contributed to driving up rents and making available supply scarce.
The result? Young professionals, modest families and even the middle classes are struggling to find housing. The Le Meur law therefore aims to rebalance the rental market, without killing off rental investment – not an easy balancing act.
💡 And now, what if you're a homeowner?
If you are an investor or rent out your furnished property, don’t panic (but a little recalibration is in order):
- Check the area where your property is located: is it a high-tension zone? Regulations are stricter there.
- Reconsider your rental strategy: long-term furnished or bare-rental accommodation becomes competitive once again.
- Plan ahead fiscally: the simplified real estate regime could become your best friend for continuing to optimize your rental income.
📈 Impact on rental investment
The Le Meur law could mark a turning point. Gone are the double-digit returns promised by YouTube training courses on the “explosive profitability of Airbnb”. Instead, we’re heading for a return to breakeven:
- More properties back on the traditional rental market;
- A reduction in rental tension in certain areas (this is the objective);
- Tax rebalancing between furnished and unfurnished rentals.