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Registration Number: Everything You Need to Know to Rent Out Your Property

Do you want to rent out your property?

Discover everything you need to know about the registration number and the essential steps to rent out your property with peace of mind.

With the rise of holiday rental platforms like Airbnb, Booking, and many others, more and more individuals want to monetize their property by putting it under rental management. However, this activity implies respecting certain legal obligations. Among these obligations, you must inquire about the tourist registration number and complete the necessary steps before listing your accommodation for rent.

In this article, l'Agence Vacancéole explains everything you need to know on this subject.

What is the registration number?

The registration number is a unique 13-digit identifier assigned by your local town hall, allowing for the control and regulation of holiday rentals.

Without this number, rental platforms will not be able to publish your property listing.

Introduced to combat illegal rentals and ensure transparency in rental activities, this number is mandatory in certain cities and guarantees that the accommodation complies with imposed safety and comfort standards*.

*Since 2009, it has been essential for owners of tourist accommodations to declare themselves to the town hall of the municipality where the rented property is located.

owner obligation

Yes

Registration with the town hall has become mandatory in several large French cities, particularly those with high housing pressure. This obligation allows municipalities to better regulate the rental market by controlling compliance with rules applicable to short-term rentals, notably the 120-day per year limit for primary residences and the authorization for change of use* for secondary residences.

This number must appear on all your rental listings.

Declaring your activity to the town hall is essential for several reasons:

  • Formalize your rental activity and ensure the legal compliance of your property.
  • This contributes to transparency and tax fairness, ensuring that all owners pay applicable local taxes, such as the tourist tax, for example.

To obtain your tourist registration number, you must visit your town hall’s website or go there in person. Generally, you just need to fill out an online form where you will specify the characteristics of your property and the planned rental terms. Once this information is validated, you will receive your registration number.

When registering your property, several pieces of information will be requested:

  • The precise address of your property.
  • The type of property (apartment, house, studio, etc.).
  • The number of rooms and available beds.
  • The maximum rental duration per year.
  • Provided amenities (Wi-Fi, kitchen, etc.).

This information allows the town hall to ensure that your property complies with local regulations regarding tourist rentals.

Is my property subject to this registration number?

All properties offered for short-term rental may be subject to the registration obligation, especially those located in high-demand or tourist areas.

To find out if you are concerned, check the rules in force in your municipality or contact us.

*Primary residences rented for more than 120 days per year are also concerned.

tourist registration number
If you rent out your primary residence within the annual limit of 120 days, you do not need to obtain any authorization, as you are not changing the use of your property. Your property remains your primary residence, and therefore dedicated to housing.

If you offer your property for short-term rental via platforms like Airbnb or Booking, beyond the case mentioned above, you are changing the use of your property. In most cases, authorization will be required.

Why? Because in the case of short-term or holiday rentals, tenants are only passing through and do not establish residence in your property. This constitutes a change of use within the meaning of the Construction and Housing Code, as the use of your property becomes commercial.

If this is your situation, the steps to take will depend on the city where your property is located.

Properties subject to prior authorization for change of use are:

  • Located in municipalities with more than 200,000 inhabitants, as well as in municipalities in the departments of Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, and Val-de-Marne.
  • Located in cities that have implemented a change of use authorization procedure by deliberation of the municipal or inter-municipal council.

For more information, click here.

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