Paris Perfect Legal?

Old May 3rd, 2016, 08:17 PM
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Paris Perfect Legal?

So I have just booked our family of 4, mom,dad, 15 year old and 16 year old for a London / Paris trip arriving London October 9 and departing Oct 16 from Paris. I have another thread where I stated I'd prefer hotel to rental apartment which is true, but I've been perusing the Paris Perfect site and found a couple of options a bit outside of our budget but are perhaps doable. Are this site's rentals still legal? What taxes/fees are commonly added to rental rates and do the people who have used the site love them or hate them? We will probably opt for other accommodations, but I've read enough to be curious. Clearly these are available more than 4 months out of the year. Legal or not? They also have properties in London. Dont they?
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 08:44 PM
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It has been made relatively clear that it is not legal since the apartments proposed are not "lived in."
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 08:53 PM
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Are this site's rentals still legal?

Currently, it would be impossible to determine accurately. I rather doubt that PP would confirm that they indeed list apartments that are offered illegally. There is legislation currently being discussed that would require rental companies to limit what they offer to legal apartments only.

What taxes/fees are commonly added to rental rates

Rental companies are legally obligated to assess, collect, and forward the taxe de séjour which is approximately 1€ per day per registered occupant.

do the people who have used the site love them or hate them?

I have read both positive and negative reviews and opinions about Paris Perfect. Most comments I have read are favorable.

Clearly these are available more than 4 months out of the year. Legal or not?

Then they would clearly not qualify as apartments legally offered by the principal owner/occupant. However, it remains possible that any given apartment could be officially approved by the city for short term, vacation rentals. I have heard that there are approximately 500 such apartments currently offered within the city of Paris.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 09:14 PM
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Sarastro- Thank you. I knew there was still a debate and thought I had read somewhere that there was a way to legally rent short term apartments. That must be the city approved rentals you mentioned. I guess I just didn't see how the website is still up and running if it was illegal. Too bad. It looks like they have some lovely properties.

Kerouac- No need to be so cranky. It never hurts to pose the question. Sometimes we learn something new by doing so.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 09:18 PM
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It isn't whether Paris Perfect is 'legal' -- it is wether the specific apartment is legit or not. It is a rental agency -- they don't own the flats. Most are likely illegal.

London is a different kettle of fish . . . There aren't the same municipal/national regulations.

A this time (until the situation is more resolved) I would personally avoid renting apartments in Paris -- Citadines or another aparthotel are fine.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 09:20 PM
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we were posting at the same time -- it isn't the agency that would be 'illegal' -- it is the owner who chooses to break the rules.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 09:20 PM
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Cranky? What was cranky?
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 09:20 PM
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Running the agency is not illegal and neither is listing apartments (even illegally rented ones). The current burden of complying with the law rests with the owner. If the future the proposed amendments are passed into law, there will be a requirement for agencies to list a permit number with their apartments and then we will see how many of the agencies can do that. I am betting that the agencies are hoping that amendment does not pass because it could change the game for apartment rentals.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 09:21 PM
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kerouac, if it matters, I did not think that you were cranky.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 01:19 AM
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Yikes. I put a deposit on an apartment in Paris for this October. We have to pay in cash when we get there. We've done this in the past in both France and Italy and thought it was the norm so didn't think much about it.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 01:43 AM
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I didn't think kerouac's reply was cranky, either. Short and to the point, maybe...

There is no official list of legal vacation apartments currently available to the public. The public list is planned for some date in the future, after the task force completes their investigations, and will include the mandatory license numbers for approved rentals. Until then, there is no list available.

The city does keep a list of approximately 600 apartments which meet the criteria for legal rentals, but they are located in neighborhoods in which the average tourist would not feel comfortable, and which lack the charm and amenities most tourists feel are a part of the experience. If you speak excellent French, know the exact address of the apartment and the owner's name, you might try contacting the Mayor's Office to inquire if this is an approved rental.

There is a lot of confusion regarding the official Paris Office of Tourism website, which lists ads for rental apartments. This does not mean these apartments are approved by the city. Anyone can pay to post an ad on these websites - that's how the site is supported - and if you read the small print, you will find that the City of Paris does not endorse goods or services listed here, because to do so would make the City liable for all sorts of lawsuits, etc.

As everyone mentioned, this agency (as well as others) is operating legally, and is breaking no laws by merely listing property and collecting money and room tax per night. Most websites are hoping that playing around with the booking calendars might help them buy some time, but the task force is aware of this. If you must pay all or part of the rental fees in cash on arrival, you are helping the owner/agency to commit tax fraud, so might want to think about that.

The property owner is breaking the law, if he does not meet the criteria set by the City, and will pay increased fines of 100,000 EU per day and per unit, if he continues to rent after being sanctioned by the task force. Since most owners cannot afford to pay this amount - or pay the amount needed to satisfy the criteria for a legal rental - there are two options: remove the apartment from the market for a period of time, then try to list again until the task force catches it; or remove the unit permanently and put it up for sale.

What the renter risks is a last-minute cancellation - most often referred to as "plumbing problems or construction" - and having to scramble to find a suitable place to stay. If you rent from an agency with multiple properties and there is a last-minute cancellation, you will likely be placed in another unit - but it might not be in your preferred neighborhood, and might not have the amenities you chose and paid for. If you rent from an individual, you will receive a refund and will have to find another place on your own.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 02:43 AM
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A couple of things to check carefully with Paris Perfect.

1. Air conditioning. There were reports a while back that they would not allow you to use it at night... That's when I want it LOL! I am not there during the day!

2. Power use. There have also been reports that they tell you if you use too much power you will get billed, but I have not heard they give guidance on this.

I avoid Paris Perfect after reading boards like this, but they have champions.

I have done well with vacationinparis.com in the past.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 03:05 AM
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My apartment is through VRBO but I think that if an apartment is illegal it is illegal. The deposit is nonrefundable. I have a feeling that VRBO isn't going to help us out if it falls through. I have to decide if the risk is worth it.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 04:49 AM
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Vrbo is not going to help you. That is not their role.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 05:25 AM
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so in answer to original question...are they a legal agency probably...are their apartments legal...some may be some not...are they the exclusive booking agent for that property...probably not....they are overpriced and service level has declined over the years per many reports...will they tell you any of this...No. After booking you may find that your property mysteriously disappears off their site...probably they got caught.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 05:52 AM
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We've rented from Paris Perfect on four different occasions. In Sept '08 for 3 weeks, December '09 & '11 for two 10 day trips, and last October for 2 weeks. We have never had to pay for any electricity supplement - and we cook quite a bit in the Apt and obviously have the heat on in December (it snowed one day).

They own some of the properties that they offer, and also "represent" other owners. Obviously, as the "other" owners "come & go" - the apt will disappear from their list of offerings. On another occasion, they owned an apt and the apt management voted to not allow outside rentals in the building. So PP took the unit off the market and sold it. We've rented the same apt on all of our trips. But the apt "disappeared" from their site a few years ago when their site was "hacked" and "someone else" started fraudulently peddling "our" apt.

Paris Perfect claims that they are 100 percent legal, that they pay all the fees & taxes that are necessary, and that all of their properties are registered.

Rules & regulations change all the time - so tomorrow some new regulation may pop up that may make some or all of their units illegal. Here in San Francisco, that's the case. It's a "moving target".

Stu Dudley
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Old May 4th, 2016, 06:38 AM
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>>.they are overpriced and service level has declined over the years per many reports...will they tell you any of this...No.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 07:59 AM
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Kerouac- perhaps I misread the tone of your response. My apologies.

I guess it's off to Citidines for us unless anyone has any other suggestions. I had bookmarked Paris Perfect a year ago because I thought the units were lovely and would accommodate all four of us. I thought perhaps they were set up more like Citidines just pricier. As this is not the case, we won't be taking any chances. No one wants to scramble to find housing when you only have 4 or 5 days. That would be a complete waste of precious time.
Thanks to all for the responses.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 10:56 PM
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Stu Dudley - where exactly is Paris Perfect "registered"?
As of this date, and for the foreseeable future, there is no official list of apartments that have been licensed to operate legally by the City of Paris.

I suspect this agency, as many others do, claim to be registered with the Tourist Commission, FNAIM (a lobbying group representing property owners with apartments for rent), or maybe some other organization. None of this makes these apartments legal.

If you speak perfect French, and know the exact address of the apartment and the name of the property owner, you might try contacting the Mayor's office. There is a list - not released to the public - of approximately 600 apartments which have met the criteria for legal rentals. But they are not located in the areas where tourists want to stay, and lack the charm and amenities most people want.
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Old May 5th, 2016, 06:48 AM
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>>There is a list - not released to the public - of approximately 600 apartments which have met the criteria for legal rentals.
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