France hubs

Franck

Property Manager

FranceFrench (Français)€ EUR

Franck manages residential and commercial properties across France, navigating complex tax codes, tenant rights, and building regulations. This hub covers the national frameworks he relies on to keep his properties compliant and his business running smoothly, with state-specific regional variations detailed in the state-specific sections.

Keeping the taxman happy

Managing property income and corporate tax obligations is the backbone of Franck's daily operations.

Professional Tax Account

Espace Professionnel

national · Direction générale des Finances publiques

Who qualifies
All property management companies and self-employed managers.
What you get
Centralized portal for VAT declarations, corporate tax, and property tax payments.
What it actually costs you
Free; requires SIRET number and electronic certificate.
Common gotcha
Forgetting to link the bank account for automatic debiting leads to late payment penalties.

Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises

national · Direction générale des Finances publiques

Who qualifies
Any business or individual renting out furnished or unfurnished property.
What you get
Local business tax assessment based on property rental value.
What it actually costs you
Annual tax based on property location; requires filing form 1447-C.
Common gotcha
New businesses often forget to file the initial declaration in their first year.

VAT on Real Estate Services

national · Direction générale des Finances publiques

Who qualifies
Managers providing agency services or furnished rentals with services.
What you get
Standardized VAT collection and deduction framework.
What it actually costs you
Requires strict invoicing compliance; 20% standard rate.
Common gotcha
Confusing the threshold for VAT exemption with the actual tax liability.

Property Tax Management

Taxe Foncière

national · Direction générale des Finances publiques

Who qualifies
Property owners (Franck manages the payment process for clients).
What you get
Annual tax statement for land and buildings.
What it actually costs you
Annual payment; requires property cadastral reference.
Common gotcha
Changes in local tax rates can surprise owners; always check the 'avis' in September.

Non-Professional Furnished Rental Status

Loueur en Meublé Non Professionnel

national · Direction générale des Finances publiques

Who qualifies
Owners of furnished rentals under specific income thresholds.
What you get
Significant tax advantages through depreciation of the property.
What it actually costs you
Requires registration with the Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce.
Common gotcha
Failure to declare the activity within 15 days of starting.

CFE Exemption for Small Rentals

national · Direction générale des Finances publiques

Who qualifies
Small-scale landlords renting out part of their primary residence.
What you get
Exemption from CFE tax.
What it actually costs you
Must meet strict criteria regarding the nature of the space rented.
Common gotcha
Assuming the exemption applies to all secondary residences.

Energy efficiency and retrofitting

With strict DPE (Energy Performance Certificate) laws, Franck must manage energy upgrades to keep units rentable.

MaPrimeRénov'

national · ANAH (Agence nationale de l'habitat)

Who qualifies
Property owners undertaking energy-saving renovations.
What you get
Financial grants for insulation, heating upgrades, and ventilation.
What it actually costs you
Requires RGE-certified contractors; application before work starts.
Common gotcha
The grant amount depends on the owner's income bracket, not the property value.

Energy Savings Certificates

Certificats d'Économies d'Énergie

national · Ministère de la Transition écologique

Who qualifies
Owners of buildings undergoing energy improvements.
What you get
Rebates or vouchers for energy-efficient equipment.
What it actually costs you
Must use approved energy providers; paperwork heavy.
Common gotcha
The rebate must be claimed through the energy supplier, not the government directly.

Energy Performance Certificate Compliance

Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique

national · Ministère de la Transition écologique

Who qualifies
All rental properties.
What you get
Mandatory energy rating required for all lease agreements.
What it actually costs you
Cost of a certified technician (approx €150-€300).
Common gotcha
Old DPEs are expiring; ensure the certificate is the 'new' version (post-2021).

Eco-Loan at Zero Interest

Éco-prêt à taux zéro

national · Ministère de la Transition écologique

Who qualifies
Owners of dwellings built before 1990.
What you get
Interest-free loan up to €50,000 for energy renovation.
What it actually costs you
Requires a bank partnership and RGE contractor.
Common gotcha
Banks are often reluctant to process these; shop around for a partner bank.

Mandatory Energy Audit

national · Ministère de la Transition écologique

Who qualifies
Owners of buildings with low energy ratings (F or G) being sold.
What you get
Detailed roadmap for energy upgrades.
What it actually costs you
Professional audit fee; mandatory for certain sales.
Common gotcha
Confusing the 'Audit' with the simpler 'DPE'.

Copro-Renov Grant

national · ANAH

Who qualifies
Condominium associations for major energy retrofits.
What you get
Subsidies for collective heating and insulation.
What it actually costs you
Requires a vote by the co-owners' assembly.
Common gotcha
Getting a majority vote in a large building is the biggest hurdle.

Managing tenants and leases

Franck needs to stay updated on rent controls, eviction laws, and deposit handling.

Visale Guarantee

national · Action Logement

Who qualifies
Tenants under 30 or new employees; landlords benefit from the security.
What you get
Free rent guarantee covering unpaid rent and damages.
What it actually costs you
Free; requires online registration.
Common gotcha
Landlords must register the lease before the tenant moves in.

Rent Control Reference

Encadrement des loyers

national · Ministère du Logement

Who qualifies
Landlords in designated 'tense' zones.
What you get
Legal framework for setting rent ceilings.
What it actually costs you
Compliance with local rent reference indices.
Common gotcha
Calculating the 'complément de loyer' (rent supplement) is legally risky.

Inventory of Fixtures

État des lieux

national · Ministère de la Justice

Who qualifies
All rental contracts.
What you get
Legal protection for property condition at entry/exit.
What it actually costs you
Time; must be signed by both parties.
Common gotcha
If the inventory is not precise, the landlord cannot withhold the deposit for damages.

Standard Lease Agreement

Bail type

national · Ministère du Logement

Who qualifies
Residential landlords.
What you get
Legal template for rental contracts.
What it actually costs you
Free; must be updated with current laws.
Common gotcha
Using outdated templates that don't include mandatory energy disclosures.

Winter Truce Compliance

national · Ministère de la Justice

Who qualifies
Landlords with eviction proceedings.
What you get
Legal framework for winter eviction bans.
What it actually costs you
Strict adherence to legal timelines.
Common gotcha
Assuming eviction is possible during winter months (Nov 1 to March 31).

Personalized Housing Assistance

Aide Personnalisée au Logement

national · CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales)

Who qualifies
Low-income tenants.
What you get
Direct rent subsidy paid to the landlord or tenant.
What it actually costs you
Requires providing rent receipts to the tenant.
Common gotcha
Delays in CAF processing can cause temporary rent payment gaps.

Protecting the business

Franck needs to ensure all properties have the right coverage to avoid personal liability.

Non-Occupying Owner Insurance

Assurance Propriétaire Non Occupant

national · Private (regulated by ACPR)

Who qualifies
Owners of rental properties.
What you get
Liability coverage for the building structure.
What it actually costs you
Annual premium; mandatory for condos.
Common gotcha
Thinking the tenant's insurance covers the building structure.

Unpaid Rent Insurance

Garantie Loyers Impayés

national · Private (regulated by ACPR)

Who qualifies
Landlords seeking protection against tenant default.
What you get
Reimbursement of unpaid rent and legal fees.
What it actually costs you
Usually 2-4% of annual rent.
Common gotcha
Strict eligibility requirements for tenant income documentation.

Professional Liability Insurance

Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle

national · Private (regulated by ACPR)

Who qualifies
Property management agencies.
What you get
Coverage for professional errors or omissions.
What it actually costs you
Annual premium; mandatory for licensed agents.
Common gotcha
Not updating the policy when taking on new types of properties.

Structural Damage Insurance

Assurance Dommages-Ouvrage

national · Private (regulated by ACPR)

Who qualifies
Owners undertaking major renovations.
What you get
Coverage for structural defects for 10 years.
What it actually costs you
One-time premium based on work value.
Common gotcha
Forgetting to take this out before starting construction work.

Ten-Year Contractor Guarantee

Garantie décennale

national · Private (regulated by ACPR)

Who qualifies
Contractors (Franck must verify this for his vendors).
What you get
Protection against major structural failures.
What it actually costs you
Included in contractor service fees.
Common gotcha
Not asking for the contractor's insurance certificate before signing.

Legal Protection Insurance

Protection juridique

national · Private (regulated by ACPR)

Who qualifies
Property managers and owners.
What you get
Coverage for legal fees in disputes.
What it actually costs you
Annual premium.
Common gotcha
Check if the policy covers disputes with tenants specifically.