Rent control on course to be extended until 2028, a surcharge on vacant homes, a presidential election with opposing programmes: 2027 is shaping up as a year of uncertainty for Paris property owners. The civil lease offers what other contracts do not: flexibility. On one condition: using it for what it is, a lease for tenants whose home is not their main residence.
The civil lease in brief
The civil lease, or Civil Code lease, is governed by Articles 1709 et seq. of the Civil Code, not by the law of 6 July 1989. It applies to lettings that are not the tenant's main residence: a home rented by a company for a member of staff, an employee on assignment, a pied-à-terre, a second home. It is the actual use of the home, not the title of the contract, that determines which rules apply.
1. A freely set term
A few months, a year, longer: the term is negotiated between the parties. There is no statutory minimum term, and the lease ends on the agreed date, with no forced tacit renewal. You know when you will get your property back.
2. Freely negotiated rent
Rent control applies to main-residence leases and mobility leases. A validly concluded civil lease is not subject to it: the rent is agreed with the tenant, based on the market, the location and the services provided. This freedom assumes that the home really is not the occupant's main residence: that is the whole issue of reclassification.
3. Solvent tenants
Companies housing a member of staff, employees on assignment, consultants, researchers, families between two homes: civil-lease tenants are looking for a ready-to-live-in apartment for several months, and their stay is sometimes paid for by their employer. Our article on letting to companies describes this market in detail.
4. A freely agreed security deposit
The mobility lease prohibits any security deposit, and a standard furnished letting caps it at two months' rent. Under a civil lease, the amount is freely agreed between the parties, so the guarantee can reflect the value of the home and its furniture.
5. An organised exit
No right to remain in the premises, no grounds for notice imposed by the 1989 law: the end-of-lease conditions are set in the contract, in good faith. For an owner planning to sell, house a relative or change strategy, this is a decisive advantage.
6. A home that no longer stands empty
Paris has voted to raise the tax on vacant homes to 30% of the rental value in the first year, then 60% in the following years, from 2027. Occupation of more than 90 consecutive days in the year is enough for the home not to be considered vacant: a few months under a civil lease therefore make all the difference. Full details in our article on vacant homes in Paris.
7. Flexibility in the face of 2027's uncertainties
The presidential candidates hold opposing positions on housing: extending rent control for some, abolishing it for others. A commitment of a few months lets you adapt your strategy if the rules change, without waiting for a three-year lease to end. Read our analyses of the programmes of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and of the right.
Civil lease, mobility lease, standard furnished letting: the comparison
| Criterion | Civil lease | Mobility lease | Standard furnished |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenant | Main residence elsewhere, or a company | Training, internship, assignment, relocation | Main residence |
| Duration | Flexible | 1 to 10 months, non-renewable | 1 year, tacit renewal |
| Rent in Paris | Not capped | Capped | Capped |
| Security deposit | Freely agreed | Prohibited | 2 months maximum |
| End of lease | On the agreed date | On the agreed date | Landlord's notice strictly regulated |
The rules to follow
- Check and document the tenant's main residence elsewhere: rent receipt, property tax notice, proof of accommodation.
- State clearly in the lease the intended use of the home and the reason for the stay, without ambiguity.
- Favour stays of several months: in February 2026, the Paris Judicial Court reclassified back-to-back short civil leases as tourist lets.
- Avoid endless extensions: a tenant who settles in for the long term can make your home their main residence.
- Have your lease template reviewed by a property lawyer.
The civil lease is not a way around the rules: it is the right contract for a specific situation. Used properly, it is the most flexible lease on the Paris market.
On the tax side, nothing changes: a home let furnished falls under industrial and commercial profits (LMNP status), whatever the lease. See our article on LMNP status in Paris.
⚠️ Have your contract checked
The civil lease is an arrangement whose validity depends on specific facts. This article is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Have your lease drafted or reviewed by a property lawyer, and your tax choices checked by your accountant.
Full Concierge manages your civil-lease letting
Tenant selection and checks, contracts tailored to each profile, supporting documentation, day-to-day management: we manage more than 150 apartments in Paris and the inner suburbs. Free estimate within 24 hours.
