How much can you actually charge per square metre in Paris in 2026? Between rent control, substantial gaps from one arrondissement to the next, and the furnished uplift, here are the concrete benchmarks for setting a rent that is both compliant and optimal.
The principle: three values, one ceiling
Since July 2019, every main-residence lease in Paris — unfurnished or furnished — is subject to rent control. The system rests on three values expressed in euros per m² of habitable surface:
- The reference rent: the median rent recorded by OLAP for comparable homes.
- The increased reference rent: the median +20%. This is your absolute legal ceiling.
- The reduced reference rent: the median −30%, the floor below which a tenant cannot request a reduction.
Paris is divided into 14 zones and 80 neighbourhoods, and each grid depends on four criteria: geographic sector, number of rooms (studio, 1-bed, 2-bed, 3-bed+), construction period (pre-1946 / 1946-1970 / 1971-1990 / post-1990) and rental type (unfurnished or furnished).
Orders of magnitude by zone in 2026
| Zone | Arrondissements | Indicative median rent |
|---|---|---|
| Historic centre | 1st, 2nd, 4th | up to €38/m² |
| Left Bank & west | 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 16th, 17th | €30 – 34/m² |
| Inner ring | 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 18th | €26 – 28/m² |
| Periphery | 13th, 19th, 20th | around €22/m² |
Indicative values for unfurnished rentals. The Paris-wide median sits around €28-30/m² unfurnished.
Furnished: a systematic uplift
A point often missed by owners: the grids are systematically higher for furnished rentals, by roughly 10 to 15% depending on the category. A furnished property therefore sits closer to €32 to €35/m² at the Paris median. On a 40 m² one-bedroom, the difference between unfurnished and furnished easily represents €80 to €150 of additional monthly rent — nearly €1,800 a year.
Furnishing a Parisian property is not merely a comfort choice: it is a profitability lever written directly into the official grids.
A worked calculation
Take a 40 m² furnished one-bedroom in the 11th arrondissement, built between 1971 and 1990:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Reference rent | OLAP grid | ≈ €25/m² |
| Increased reference rent | 25 × 1.20 | €30/m² |
| Legal ceiling for the property | 30 × 40 m² | €1,200 excl. charges |
The rent supplement: an exception, not a right
The rent supplement is not automatic. It is justified only by genuinely exceptional characteristics compared with similar homes in the same sector: a large terrace, a remarkable heritage view, ceiling height above 3.30 m, rare amenities. A quality renovation or new appliances are not enough. It must be explicitly stated and justified in the lease.
What is at stake in late 2026
A major point of attention: the rent-control experiment introduced by the ELAN law reaches its term on 23 November 2026. Extension, permanence or removal — political arbitration will determine the framework that follows. An extension, possibly widened to new municipalities, currently appears the most likely scenario, but nothing is settled. Every Parisian owner should follow this closely.
Costly mistakes
- Omitting the mandatory disclosure: the reference rent and increased reference rent must appear in the lease.
- Confusing habitable surface with floor area: the calculation uses habitable surface.
- Believing the mobility lease escapes rent control: it does not. It follows the same rules as a standard furnished lease in the areas concerned.
- Relying on optimistic estimates: if the ceiling is exceeded, the tenant can seek reimbursement of the overpayment.
Always verify the exact ceiling for your property
The figures in this article are orders of magnitude. The ceiling applicable to a specific home should be checked on the official DRIHL Île-de-France simulator, entering the address, property type and construction period.
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