Before listing on Airbnb: which formalities apply to your property?

Before taking photos or setting a nightly rate, check whether the property can host tourists and which formalities apply. Your municipality, the property’s status and the building rules matter more than a general rule you read on a platform.

1. Identify the property’s actual status

First establish whether the property is a main residence, a second home or a rental investment. France’s Service Public website sets out different steps for tourist lets in each situation. Having furniture, an Airbnb account or a postal address is not enough to establish a property’s legal status.

Keep a simple record of the address, current use, periods of personal occupancy, co-ownership status and any permissions you already hold. If you move abroad or permanently change how the property is used, check the implications before continuing with the same rental arrangements.

2. Distinguish registration from permission

Registering furnished tourist accommodation and obtaining change-of-use permission are separate matters. A registration number you can display on a listing does not by itself authorise every type of letting. Find out which formalities apply to your address and complete them in the required order.

Legislation and online services change. Check the current official guidance and ask your local authority which portal to use. Before following another town’s procedure or an old screenshot, verify that it is still valid for your property.

3. Check your municipality’s rules

The City of Paris states that a main residence may be let to tourists for up to 90 days a year. For a property that is not a main residence, it describes procedures including change-of-use permission with compensation and a change of planning designation. Paris rules do not automatically apply to neighbouring municipalities.

Asnières-sur-Seine’s town hall provides a way to declare furnished accommodation and apply for a change of use when required. Montreuil’s municipal website distinguishes planning applications from change-of-use applications and directs readers to Est Ensemble for the relevant information. Official links are listed at the end of this guide.

Ask the relevant authority a specific question: “For this property, at this address, given its use and these letting periods, which formalities must I complete?” Keep the reply and any documents issued. A commercial estimate cannot replace this check.

4. Review the building regulations and your own situation

Review the co-ownership rules and any decisions affecting the use of the property. If you are unsure about a clause, get advice specific to your situation. If you are a tenant, also check the subletting conditions and permissions you need. The rules that apply to the owner may differ from yours.

Permission to let and the practical arrangements for hosting guests are separate matters. Good check-in arrangements, thorough cleaning or insurance do not replace mandatory formalities. Equally, complete paperwork does not guarantee a good welcome. Prepare both aspects.

5. Keep a file for the rental

• The status you have established for the property and the evidence supporting it.
• The declarations, registration numbers and permissions that apply to you.
• Checks relating to co-ownership and, where applicable, subletting.
• An availability calendar that complies with the applicable rules.
• Tourist tax, insurance and business registration obligations to check.
• The date of your last check and contact details for the relevant authority.

This guide is a starting point. It does not provide legal advice or confirmation for an individual property. You may need to consult your town hall, planning department or a legal professional for an answer specific to your situation.

To plan your next steps, see our pages on Paris, Asnières-sur-Seine and Montreuil. ABaytt estimate can help you assess the practical and commercial aspects of your project once you know how the property may be let.