Rent framework: extended in 28 agglomerations from 1 August 2020

This arrangement, which applies to new leases and lease renewals, concerns 28 agglomerations in stretched areas.

These are areas of continuous urbanization with more than 50,000 inhabitants where there is a marked imbalance between the supply and demand of housing, resulting in serious difficulties of access to housing throughout the residential stock. A maximum amount for the evolution of the rents in the event of relocation or renewal of the lease is then fixed by decree.

However, some rentals are not subject to this framework, these are vacant accommodations:

• first leased;
• unoccupied by a tenant for more than 18 months;
• having benefited from improvement works for less than 6 months for an amount at least equal to the last year of rent practiced.

There are also certain derogations from the rent limitation:

• if the lessor proves that the rent of the last tenant was manifestly undervalued;
• whether the decent housing has been improved or brought into conformity for an amount at least equal to half of the last year's rent (the annual rent increase may not exceed 15% the actual cost of the works (incl. VAT);
• if the rent has not been revised as part of the annual review related to the change in the Rent Reference Index (IRL). In this case, an increase related to the variation of the IRL may be applied.