The temptation can be great given the potential gains. With the Paris Olympic Games approaching, the idea of renting your apartment on Airbnb must be germinating in the heads of many owners, but for that, you have to free up the premises. And therefore often ask the tenant present to leave.
In any case, this is the fear of Parisian elected officials who expressed, this Thursday, their wish to see the legislative arsenal strengthened to fight against illegal tourist rentals and increase controls in the run-up to the Games.
A rumor that could become trendy
“This is information that comes to us today from elected officials who receive tenants in their offices,” explains Ian Brossat, senator from Paris and former deputy to Anne Hidalgo in charge of housing. Suspicions rather than certainties as it is difficult to know the real intentions of the owners as long as the tenant is in place. And even after. Because despite the 10,000 inspections per year of furnished tourist accommodation carried out by City Hall agents, administrative procedures make any verification laborious.
To be able to give notice to his tenant, the lessor must justify his approach. And this can only be for personal use (making it your main home, or that of an ascendant, a descendant or a partner, for the sale of the property or for a dispute with the tenant).
Difficult to know the true extent of the phenomenon
“It is very complicated to count leave that does not comply with the law,” explains Emmanuel Grégoire, first deputy mayor of Paris, “but we have received a lot of feedback from the field which makes us fear housing “repossessions” by landlords who are not for these uses. And this may be motivated by the desire to rent your accommodation on Airbnb in general, and in particular in view of next summer’s Games. »
A fear shared by ADIL 75 (Paris departmental housing information agency). “We are contacted by tenants who think they will receive leave for this reason,” explains Hélène Le Gall, general director of the agency, “this often comes from discussions with the lessor. »
According to the general director, this practice is not specific to the Olympics since the number of holidays distributed by owners has increased over the last five years (with the exception of 2020, the Covid-19 year, where tourism experienced a spectacular drop) . But while 19% of the 2,300 leaves issued in 2022 were not validated, of the 2,400 already issued in 2023, the figure would rise to 23% according to ADIL 75.
Already the reality for some tenants
For Ludivine, 22, there is no doubt in her case: “I’m going to find myself on a friend’s couch because he’s going to make my rent per week…” This Social Sciences student has been living in her apartment for a year. just over two years old and was informed by her landlord that she would have to leave her apartment before next June.
Nothing illegal at the moment since she was warned six months before the deadline as provided for by law. Except that Ludivine has strong doubts about the motivations of her landlord: “At the beginning, he told me that it was to come and live there with his family. With his wife, they have two children and great jobs. I doubt they could fit in my 14 m2…”
Doubts reinforced by the owner’s version changes. “Once, he told me that it was none of my business, then he cited his daughter’s studies as an excuse. There is nothing coherent. » Contacted by 20 minutesthis owner refuses to give his version of the facts but assures that he is within his rights.
“I didn’t know he didn’t have the right”
Which is not the case for Nora*’s landlord who had to leave his apartment last April. “The neighbors with whom I have kept in touch told me that they see tourists parading with their suitcases. » According to these same neighbors, the owner, always the same, regularly comes to take care of the apartment between rentals. “I didn’t protest at first, I was disgusted but I didn’t know that he didn’t have the right. When he told me that I had to leave, I only thought of one thing: to find another apartment as quickly as possible. »
“The vast majority of tenants will not check what happens to the property afterwards, they have something else to think about,” notes Hélène Le Gall. But the director encourages tenants who feel cheated to contact her team to perhaps open a file.
Elected officials want a minimum period of one year to discourage tempted owners
“The tension is so strong on housing in Paris that it is not acceptable to see owners get rid of their tenants to create a new Airbnb in July,” protests Ian Brossat, who wants to establish a minimum period of one year between the notice given to a tenant and the moment when the accommodation becomes rentable on the platforms. A measure included in a transpartisan law which will be examined on November 28 in the National Assembly.
A text which has little chance of being validated between now and the opening ceremony on July 26, 2024 given the speed “of the legislative processes” according to Emmanuel Grégoire. “There is a penetration of tourist accommodation lobbying at the high level of the State. Every time we defend a text on the subject [du logement touristique meublé], a trick is found to delay deadlines. But the debates that emerge with the Olympics are an excellent means of advocacy to win support. »
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