opaldog

We have been renting apartments in Europe for almost 15 years. We are going to Paris in March 2015 and hoped to be able to rent the same apartment we stayed in last visit in October 2013. I contacted the rental and they said they would not be renting by then. When I asked if it was due to the pending or current laws regarding apartment rentals in Paris, they said they would have to wait and see how things went and would know more closer to my trip.

Does anyone have any current knowledge about the state of Paris vacation apartment rentals, say kerouac for instance.

Thanks

MaineGG

I can't shed any light on the current legal situation, but I do remember the apartment you had last trip since it was one we considered. If it doesn't work out this time, you might want to check out the one we ended up renting - http://www.vrbo.com/232791 . It's a nice studio a little farther up the canal. We were very comfortable there. Here's what I said about it in my TR:

Our Paris apartment was a nice studio on Boulevard Jules Ferry near the corner of the rue du Faubourg du Temple. This apartment fully deserves all the glowing reviews on the VRBO site. If you're happy with a studio, there's really nothing not to like here. The kitchen is better equipped than many we've had in much more expensive apartments. The sofa bed was excellent with very nice bed linens. Everything was very clean and neat. The photos make it look a little dark, but it's not at all when the curtains are open. It was very quiet as it looked out on a large green space. The République Métro station is a few minutes walk away, and bus stops for several lines are nearby. There's a Lidl two doors away, a Picard just up the street, and many other stores within a couple of blocks. When we were there, the Place de la République was still completely torn up, but that project is finished now. One great feature of this apartment was a combination washer/dryer that actually worked very well, wasn't noisy, and didn't take hours. The owner left excellent directions for using it (as well as everything else in the apartment).

opaldog

It looks like a nice apartment and the location is good. I will keep it in mind. I am hoping to be able to get the apartment we rented last as it was right on Blvd. Richard Lenoir/rue Daval and had such a great view of the market, street, etc. I spent some nice times just sitting at the little marble top kitchen table with a glass of wine people watching.

gracejoan3

They need to be legally registered. Many have just been owners renting them and not registered.

Southam

Legal status is one issue; enforcement is another. Here is a recent post from the Travel Tips forum on this board regarding the situation with airbnb, the world's biggest rental agency (although not so big in Paris.) It may provide you with some context for considering the situation.
http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...challenges.cfm

vanne

We rented a very nice studio apartment in 2010 (VRBO 49273) on Rue Charlot in the Marais (near the Enfants Rouges market). I remember the owner telling me that they were legally registered. Probably the only thing you can do is ask (I would want their reply in writing). The Rue Charlot apartment was very nice, ground floor apartment that looked out on a courtyard garden. Also had full-sized American style washer and dryer. We've decided studios aren't for us because my husband likes to stay up late and I don't; otherwise we would rent it again

Sarastro

Probably few apartments are operated in full compliance with the law. Enforcement is indeed a separate issue and one that is currently getting a lot of attention. It is very possible that the number of apartments available in the future will diminish and rates for those that remain can only increase.

It's an ongoing issue.

opaldog

I appreciate all of your replies. I don't know, but most likely the owner of the apartment I would like to rent is not legally registered. That brings up the question of how do you know if an owner is legally registered, other than their say so?

FrenchMystiqueTours

There have been many thread on Trip Advisor about "'legal apartments" in Paris and here is a link to one of them, if you feel like reading through all 194 replies. However, go to reply #104 if you want to see a good synopsis of the situation written by my Mrs.:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...de_France.html

gracejoan3

My response was to the question asked. Enforcement and how to know for certain a place is legal is totally different. If they are caught it could be expensive. If they are small, one or two apartments, they may not be registered and you may not get an honest answer. Best to rent from a responsible company, in my oipnion. I know that I do!

FrenchMystiqueTours

The only thing to know is that the minimum legal rental term for an apartment in Paris is 1 year, or 9 months for students. The only exception to that is for people renting out their main residence in which they live, provided they rent it out for no more than 4 months a year. This applies to Paris, the inner suburbs and any French city of at least 200,000 people. So far Paris seems to be the only place where there has has been a recent attempt at enforcement of apartment rental laws, but they have only gone after very few people. Whether the owners pay their income taxes and whether or not the owner and the rental agency are reputable (and all rental agencies are legally registered businesses) is irrelevant. The fact is that an owner can't possibly comply with the law as it is. In order to comply with the law an owner would have to buy commercial space equivalent in size to the apartment (and twice the size in touristy neighborhoods) to be converted to housing. Technically they would be buying virtual space and merely paying Paris a fee (between equal or twice the value of the apartment). Needless to say, very few owners can afford to do this.

opaldog

Once again, than you for the interesting and informative replies. I did read the link to tripadvisor and read through many of the responses.

Sassafrass

Good info.

swandav2000

Thanks very much for this info and your wife's good explanation, FMT! Previously, I thought the owners only had to register and pay some fees/taxes to make the rental legal. This is very interesting -- and chilling.

I've gotten so comfortable renting apartments in Paris, now I'm facing the classic dilemma: do the wrong thing and hope to get by or stay in hotels. Rats.

If only there were more housing options for the Parisian working class.

s

gracejoan3

I do know of rental companies who make appointments for apartment inspections by Paris gov people, registering them and paying very large fees to do so. Owners of apartments that are managed are advised to do so, to be legal in their operations. All are then legally registered and operating legally under Paris rental laws. There is also the offset by having commercial property. French laws are very tricky!!

a bientot...
Joan