The Airbnb shake-up that’s opening doors for expats in France

The new Airbnb regulations in France might finally bring more furnished, long-term rentals back on the market.

Let’s address something that’s quietly changing how people like you find a home in France: the Airbnb crackdown and new 2025 rules that are nudging apartments back into the long-term market. If you’re searching for a mid-term, one-year furnished rental, read on.

Quick snapshot: for the last decade, short-term platforms turned hundreds — maybe thousands — of once-available one-year flats into tourist cash machines. That made life rough for expats hunting furnished leases. But now, between local rules, national proposals, and tougher enforcement, the math is shifting. Owners who once chased nightly rates are rethinking whether the hassle and regulatory risk are worth it.

Yes, for years, finding a long-term rental in France—especially in cities like Paris, Lyon, or Nice—felt like trying to win the lottery. Landlords preferred short-term tourists over long-term tenants, and expats often found themselves drowning in paperwork or competing with locals who had ironclad dossiers. But here’s the thing: the French authorities have been tightening the screws on Airbnb and short-term rentals, both the central government and townhalls like Saint-Malo in Brittany or Paris itself, and that’s starting to change the game.

What’s changed on the law side? The 2025 measures tighten rules for short-term rentals in many towns and create stronger registration and compensation obligations for hosts. In practice that means limits on how often a property can be let as a tourist stay, and new obligations in some places that push owners to either register properly or provide equivalent housing for locals. For landlords, those changes reduce the financial upside of running a full-time Airbnb and make long-term rental comparatively attractive again.

 Let’s talk about what this means for you. If you’re looking for a furnished, one-year rental, you’re in luck. Landlords are rediscovering the joys of having a stable tenant—someone who pays rent on time, takes care of the property, and doesn’t require constant turnover. And guess what? Expats who can show financial stability, a solid rental history, or even a guarantee from services like Garantme or Visale are suddenly looking a lot more attractive to landlords.

Now, don’t get me wrong—Paris is still Paris, and sought-after areas in large cities like Marseille or Lyon or Toulouse are still competitive, and you’ll need to bring your A-game when it comes to your rental dossier. But the tide is turning. More properties are popping up in neighborhoods that were once dominated by Airbnbs. Landlords are realizing that a reliable tenant is worth more than a revolving door of tourists.

So more specifically, why does that matter to you, the mid-term renter? Three reasons:

First reason — more supply. As short-term operators step back or convert units to standard leases, one-year furnished rentals begin to reappear, even in neighbourhoods that were once impossible to crack. In other words: the places you’ve been dreaming about — Marais, Saint-Germain, even parts of the Left Bank — are slowly becoming reachable again.

Second — better stability. Landlords who choose the long lease want predictability: one tenant, one contract, no nightly turnovers. That suits people coming for one year who want a home, not just a short stay. These leases usually follow the standard rules, which give tenants legal protection and a clearer framework.

Third — increased professionalism. The crackdown has pushed the market toward formal registrations, verified guarantees, and digital agency workflows. That’s good for expats because it levels the playing field — agencies are more used to handling international dossiers and tools like Garantme, Visale, or private guarantors are more widely accepted now, and presenting a tidy set of documents and a solid guarantee goes a long way.

A few practical tips if you’re hunting a one-year furnished place:

1. Come prepared. Have your contract, pay slips, bank statements, and a guarantor lined up. If you don’t have a French CDI, look at Garantme or Visale options — they are increasingly accepted.

2. Work with a Relocation Agent: If you’re struggling to navigate the market, a relocation agent can be a game-changer. They know the ins and outs of the system and can help you find listings that aren’t even public yet.

3. Show You’re a “Good Tenant”: Landlords want stability. If you can show that you’re planning to stay long-term, that you have a steady income, and that you’ll treat the property like your own, you’ll stand out from the crowd.

4. Say you’ll stay. Landlords appreciate tenants who signal a real intention to live in the flat for a year or two. It’s honest, and it helps you compete.

5. Be flexible on timing. Listings are coming back, but they’re competitive. If you can move quickly and present a clean dossier, you’ll have an edge.

Now, a reality check: this is not a sudden miracle. Paris and other cities still have tight markets and strict local rules. The new regulations aren’t a one-size-fits-all cure — they’re a correction that creates more opportunities over time. Think of it as the market rebalancing itself: less speculative short-term profit, more long-term housing available to real residents.

If you’re an expat contemplating a move or already here on the hunt, this is a moment to be optimistic — and practical. The tide is turning in your favour, but success still comes to those who come prepared, who can show stability, and who use the new tools on the market.