Gutenberg HTML:
Last updated:
Key takeaways
- Every landlord in France must deliver and maintain a logement décent under Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462 of 6 July 1989. This obligation cannot be contracted away.
- Major structural and system repairs (roofs, walls, heating, electrical networks) are the landlord's legal responsibility under Article 606 of the Code civil. Tenants handle routine upkeep only.
- From 1 January 2025, a property rated energy class G cannot be legally rented on a new or renewed lease in metropolitan France. Class F follows from 1 January 2028.
- When a landlord refuses to repair, French law provides a four-stage path: informal request, formal mise en demeure, Commission départementale de conciliation, and the Tribunal judiciaire.
- Never stop paying rent without a court order. Only a judge can authorise rent suspension or deposit into escrow at the Caisse des dépôts et consignations.
Quick answer
French law requires landlords to deliver a structurally sound, healthy, and energy-efficient home and to carry out all major repairs throughout the tenancy. Tenants handle day-to-day upkeep only. From January 2025, class G properties cannot be rented on new or renewed leases. When a landlord refuses to act, a formal mise en demeure starts the legal clock.
Legal disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. French tenancy law changes regularly and can vary by property type, region, and lease structure. Contact your local ADIL or a qualified legal professional for advice on your specific situation. Consigning rent without a court order can itself constitute a breach of your lease.
Overview: the landlord's duty under French law
When you rent a home in France, the law sets protections that go well beyond what the lease might say. The central obligation is found in Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462 of 6 July 1989: the main French tenancy statute, consolidated as recently as January 2025. A landlord must hand over a dwelling that is decent, poses no obvious risk to physical safety or health, is free from infestation, and meets minimum energy performance levels. That obligation does not end at the door. The same article requires the landlord to maintain the property throughout the tenancy, carrying out all repairs beyond normal wear and routine upkeep.
At a median rent of 1,995 EUR per month in Paris (Wunderflats internal data, Jun 2025–May 2026), and with active furnished listings across France's zone tendue cities, understanding a landlord's maintenance obligations matters financially for both sides. A landlord who fails to maintain their property to the logement décent standard risks losing the right to charge rent. Under the DPE ban, they may also lose the right to let the property at all.
For expats and international tenants, this framework often comes as a genuine surprise. Many countries treat maintenance as a matter left largely to contract. France does not. The decent housing standard is a floor, not a ceiling, and it cannot be contracted away: any clause in a lease that purports to pass major structural repairs to the tenant is void under Article 4 of Loi n° 89-462. Knowing this matters, because landlords do not always volunteer the information. An expat unfamiliar with French law may quietly absorb costs they were never legally required to pay.
The concept at the heart of the framework is the logement décent: the decent dwelling. It is defined in detail by Décret n° 2002-120 of 30 January 2002, updated most recently by Décret n° 2023-796 of 18 August 2023. The decree sets out minimum standards across structural soundness, air quality, ventilation, natural light, heating, sanitation, and energy performance. The energy performance criterion was added in 2025. A property that falls below any of these thresholds is legally non-decent, and the landlord has a positive duty to bring it into compliance.
"Any clause in a lease that purports to pass major structural repairs to the tenant is void under Article 4 of Loi n° 89-462."
The decent housing standard (logement décent)
Décret n° 2002-120 translates the broad requirement of "decency" into concrete, verifiable criteria. The decree applies to all residential tenancies governed by Loi n° 89-462: unfurnished, furnished, and bail mobilité. The ANIL confirmed in its updated analysis of September 2023 that the decree now incorporates energy performance thresholds directly, following the reforms introduced by Décret n° 2023-796.
Surface area is the starting point. A rental must contain at least one main room of 9 m² with a ceiling height of at least 2.20 m, or a habitable volume of at least 20 m³ (Article 4 of the decree). This minimum applies to the main room, not to the total apartment area. A studio of 8 m² does not meet the standard. This is a common point of confusion in Paris and other major cities, where market pressure can result in substandard units being listed.
Below is a reference table of the core criteria under the decree. Each criterion maps to a specific article or to a standard it incorporates by reference.
| Criterion | Legal threshold | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum surface area | At least one room of 9 m² with ceiling height ≥ 2.20 m, or habitable volume ≥ 20 m³ | Décret 2002-120, Art. 4 |
| Structural soundness and weather-tightness | Load-bearing structure, roof, external joinery, and access routes in good repair; protection against rainwater infiltration and rising damp | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 2(1) |
| Air-tightness | Doors, windows, and walls facing the exterior or unheated spaces must be sufficiently airtight; chimneys must have dampers | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 2(2) |
| Ventilation and air quality | Ventilation devices and opening mechanisms in working order; adequate air renewal and humidity extraction for normal occupancy. Strengthened humidity rules apply since DĂ©cret 2023-796. | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 2(6); DĂ©cret 2023-796 |
| Natural light | Each main room must have sufficient natural light and at least one opening to the open air or to a glazed volume with outdoor exposure | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 2(7) |
| Heating | An installation capable of normal heating, adapted to the property's characteristics; all equipment in safe working order and conforming to safety standards | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 3; Art. 2(5) |
| Sanitation | Drinking water supply with adequate pressure and flow; wastewater and sewage drainage preventing odour backflow; sanitary facilities adapted to normal use | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 3 |
| Electrical and safety elements | Guard rails and retention devices on balconies, stairs, and windows must be in conforming condition; electrical and gas networks must meet applicable safety standards | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 2(3), 2(5) |
| Energy performance (since 2025) | DPE class A–F in metropolitan France from 1 Jan 2025; A–E from 1 Jan 2028; A–D from 1 Jan 2034 | Décret 2002-120, Art. 3 bis; Décret 2023-796 |
Info: The decent housing rules also require the property to be free from infestation by harmful species and parasites, following the ELAN Act (Loi n° 2018-1021 of 23 November 2018). Materials and pipework must not present manifest health or safety risks. Exposed live wiring, asbestos-covered pipes in poor condition, or accessible lead paint would each fail this test.
Décret n° 2023-796 of August 2023 strengthened several of the existing criteria. The humidity rules are now more prescriptive: the decree requires that ventilation must be capable of extracting excess humidity from wet rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms in a way that prevents condensation and mould formation on structural surfaces. A property with chronic damp caused by a failed ventilation system is non-decent, even if structural integrity is otherwise intact.
Landlord vs tenant: who pays for what
The dividing line between what the landlord must fix and what the tenant must maintain is one of the most disputed areas of French tenancy law. The answer depends on two bodies of law working in tandem: Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462, which covers the landlord's general maintenance duty, and the Décret du 26 août 1987, which lists the réparations locatives (tenant repairs) in detail.
The general principle is clear. The landlord handles all major, structural, and system-level work. The tenant handles routine upkeep and small repairs from ordinary use. The key legal concepts are grosses réparations (major works, defined in Article 606 of the Code civil) for the landlord, and menu entretien (routine upkeep) for the tenant. Article 606 defines major works as those affecting the structural shell: thick walls, vaulted structures, roofing in its entirety, retaining walls, and fencing. Courts have extended the concept to all works of lasting importance: heating systems, electrical networks, gas supply, and external joinery all fall within the landlord's scope.
One area that consistently catches tenants out is vétusté: the natural ageing of a property. Repairs caused by vétusté, construction defects, or force majeure events such as storm damage always fall to the landlord, regardless of where the fault originated. The ANIL confirmed this position in its guidance of 16 September 2025. A landlord cannot charge a tenant for replacing a boiler that has worn out after fifteen years, or for resurfacing a floor whose finish has degraded through normal occupation. These are costs of ownership, not of tenancy.
| Repair or work | Responsibility | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement or major repair | Landlord | Code civil, Art. 606 |
| External walls, masonry, load-bearing structures | Landlord | Code civil, Art. 606 |
| External joinery (menuiseries) replacement or major repair | Landlord | Code civil, Art. 606 |
| Replacement of heating system or boiler (worn out through age) | Landlord | Loi 89-462, Art. 6; vétusté rule |
| Electrical or gas network upgrade or repair (safety-related) | Landlord | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 2(5) |
| Replacing worn floor covering (end of useful life) | Landlord | Vétusté rule; Loi 89-462, Art. 6 |
| Repairing water infiltration from the roof or structure | Landlord | DĂ©cret 2002-120, Art. 2(1) |
| Replacing broken window pane (not tenant fault) | Landlord | Loi 89-462, Art. 6 |
| Replacing equipment in a furnished flat that breaks down through normal use | Landlord | Loi 89-462, Art. 6; ANIL guidance 2025 |
| Annual boiler service (individual heating system) | Tenant | Décret 26 août 1987 (réparations locatives) |
| Replacing lightbulbs and fuses | Tenant | Décret 26 août 1987 |
| Clearing blocked drains (routine maintenance) | Tenant | Décret 26 août 1987 |
| Touch-up painting and minor wall repairs (normal use) | Tenant | Décret 26 août 1987 |
| Replacing a broken window pane (tenant fault) | Tenant | Loi 89-462, Art. 7 |
| Repairing damage caused by misuse or neglect | Tenant | Loi 89-462, Art. 7 |
Tip: For furnished rentals, any equipment supplied by the landlord that stops working through no fault of the tenant must be repaired or replaced by the landlord. If the washing machine that came with your furnished flat breaks down after two years of normal use, that cost belongs to the landlord, not to you. This is confirmed by ANIL guidance updated in September 2025.
Note that requirements can change and professional advice may be needed for borderline cases: particularly where vétusté and tenant misuse overlap, or where a dispute arises in a copropriété (co-owned building) with complex shared-responsibility rules.
Energy performance requirements and the DPE rental bans
Energy performance has become one of the most consequential obligations in French rental law. The Loi Climat et Résilience of 22 August 2021 anchored the seven DPE energy classes (A through G) in statute, specifically in Article L.173-1-1 of the Code de la construction et de l'habitation, and introduced a rolling calendar of rental bans tied to energy classification. Décret n° 2023-796 of 18 August 2023 then incorporated the energy performance thresholds directly into the decent housing decree, making them part of the core landlord obligation rather than a separate regulatory layer.
Wunderflats actively verifies DPE ratings on all listed properties, and the rental bans from 2025 (class G) and 2028 (class F) directly affect the furnished short-to-mid-term market where Wunderflats operates. Landlords whose properties fail the current energy threshold are notified before any listing goes live.
Warning: Since 1 January 2025, any new lease or lease renewal on a class G property in metropolitan France is unlawful. A landlord who signs or renews such a lease is in breach of Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462. This applies to unfurnished, furnished, and social housing leases alike.
The rental ban timeline is staged to give landlords time to renovate. Each deadline marks the point at which properties in a given energy class can no longer be let on new or renewed leases in metropolitan France.
| DPE class | Ban on new leases (metropolitan France) | Ban on renewals | Additional effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class G | From 1 Jan 2025 | From 1 Jan 2025 | Rent freeze since 24 Aug 2022; property treated as non-decent under DĂ©cret 2002-120 |
| Class F | From 1 Jan 2028 | From 1 Jan 2028 | Rent freeze since 24 Aug 2022; overseas territories class G ban also applies from 2028 |
| Class E | From 1 Jan 2034 | From 1 Jan 2034 | Metropolitan France only at this stage; overseas territories class F ban from 1 Jan 2031 |
| Classes A–D | No ban scheduled | No ban scheduled | Compliant with all current and planned thresholds |
DPE rental status by class (metropolitan France, July 2026)
| DPE Energy Class | Rental Status |
|---|---|
| Class A | Rentable: compliant |
| Class B | Rentable: compliant |
| Class C | Rentable: compliant |
| Class D | Rentable: compliant |
| Class E | Rentable until 1 Jan 2034 |
| Class F | Banned from 1 Jan 2028 |
| Class G | Banned since 1 Jan 2025 |
Source: Loi n° 2021-1104 (Climat et Résilience), 22 August 2021; Décret n° 2023-796, 18 August 2023.
If you are currently renting a class F or G property, check when your lease was signed and when it next renews. Landlords of F and G properties cannot increase your rent. The rent freeze has applied since 24 August 2022. If your lease renews after the relevant ban date and the landlord has not upgraded the property, the dwelling is non-decent and you can begin the formal compliance process described in the next section.
ANAH renovation grants for landlords
The Agence nationale de l'habitat (ANAH) administers grant schemes that can help landlords fund the works needed to meet the DPE thresholds. The main scheme is MaPrimeRĂ©nov', which covers insulation, heating system replacement, and ventilation improvements. Landlords who commit to capped rents under ANAH's Loc'Avantages scheme can combine grant support with tax relief, substantially reducing the cost of a DPE uplift from class G or F to class D. Applications are submitted through anah.gouv.fr. Using an accredited Mon Accompagnateur RĂ©nov' operator is advisable to navigate the application correctly.
Info: There are limited exceptions where a judge cannot order energy renovation works: specifically, listed heritage properties where modifications are prohibited by architectural heritage rules, or situations where a copropriété has refused the necessary works despite the landlord's genuine attempts to obtain assembly approval. In those cases, the judge retains the power to reduce or suspend rent even if ordering the works is not possible.
What to do when a landlord won't repair
Most repair disputes in France resolve informally. A specific, written message to the landlord describing the problem and asking for a repair timeline is often all it takes. Keep a record of every exchange, even informal ones: a timestamped email or WhatsApp message establishes that you raised the issue.
When informal contact fails, the law provides a clear, staged escalation path. Each stage builds on the last. Skipping stages can weaken your legal position or introduce procedural delays. The four-stage timeline below maps the path from first contact to the Tribunal judiciaire.
Stage 1: informal contact
Start with a written message that is specific and factual. "The central heating system has not worked since 3 June 2026. I have no heating or hot water. Please confirm when this will be repaired." Vague complaints are harder to act on. A precise, dated message on file establishes the timeline and demonstrates good faith on your part.
Stage 2: the mise en demeure
If the landlord does not respond or refuses to act, send a lettre recommandée avec avis de réception (LRAR). This is registered mail with a signed return receipt from La Poste, and it serves as the mise en demeure. It should cite the applicable law (Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462, and Décret n° 2002-120 for decent housing issues), describe the defect precisely, and set a reasonable deadline for repair: typically 15 to 30 days for urgent issues. The signed postal receipt is your proof of delivery. Keep it with a copy of the letter.
For non-decency complaints, Article 20-1 of Loi n° 89-462 starts a two-month period from the date of this written request. After those two months, if no action has been taken, you may approach the CDC. For urgent safety issues such as gas leaks, exposed live wiring, or structural collapse risk, do not wait. Contact your local ADIL immediately and consider emergency référé d'urgence proceedings before the Tribunal judiciaire.
Stage 3: Commission départementale de conciliation (CDC)
The CDC is a free, parity body composed of equal numbers of tenant and landlord representatives, present in every French department. It is not a court and cannot impose a solution, but it brings both parties together and attempts to reach a negotiated agreement. A successful conciliation produces a signed document binding on both parties: neither may then take the same issue to court. If it fails, the CDC issues a written opinion that can be produced as evidence before a judge.
The CDC must issue its response within two months of referral. For repair and decency disputes, CDC referral is optional before going to court. You can approach the Tribunal judiciaire directly at any point. For certain other disputes (such as contested rent increases), CDC referral is mandatory. The Service-Public.fr directory lists every CDC by department.
Stage 4: Tribunal judiciaire
The juge des contentieux de la protection within the Tribunal judiciaire handles all residential tenancy disputes. A judge who finds that the property is non-decent or that obligatory repairs have not been carried out can: order the landlord to carry out specific works within a set deadline; reduce rent in proportion to the inconvenience suffered; suspend or escrow rent payments until works are completed; and award compensation for documented losses. For urgent situations involving immediate risk to safety, a référé d'urgence can secure a court order within days, without waiting for a full hearing. Landlords who have ignored every prior step typically find the Tribunal judiciaire the clearest possible signal.
Tip: Your local ADIL provides free model letters for both the informal request and the mise en demeure, and can review your draft before you send it. Find your ADIL at anil.org.
Rent withholding and consignation
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of French tenancy law. The position is clear: you cannot unilaterally withhold rent because your landlord is in breach of their maintenance obligations. Doing so gives the landlord a straightforward basis to apply for an expulsion order for non-payment of rent. That would put you in a far worse position than before.
Warning: Never stop paying rent without a court order. Service-Public.fr guidance (May 2024) is explicit: during any dispute process, including conciliation, the tenant must continue to pay rent and charges in full. Only a judge can authorise rent suspension or deposit into the Caisse des dépôts et consignations. Consigning rent without legal authorisation can itself constitute a breach of the lease.
What court-ordered consignation offers is a structured, supervised alternative to paying directly into the landlord's account. When the Tribunal judiciaire orders consignation, you pay your monthly rent into an escrow account held by the Caisse des dépôts et consignations rather than to the landlord. The rent is held securely until the dispute is resolved. Once the landlord completes the required works and the judge is satisfied, consigned amounts are released. If the landlord never acts, those funds remain protected in your favour.
A judge authorises consignation or rent suspension when three conditions are met: the property is non-decent or legally mandated repairs have not been carried out; the tenant followed the correct escalation steps; and the measure is proportionate to the breach. A judge will not suspend the full rent for a minor defect. For a problem affecting part of the property's use (a non-functional bathroom, for example), the reduction will be proportionate to the functional loss.
There is a parallel remedy worth knowing. If you receive housing benefit (APL, ALF, or ALS), your CAF or CMSA office has the power to withhold the benefit from the landlord where a decency inspection confirms the property is substandard. This operates separately from any court proceedings and can run concurrently. In practice, it adds a second lever: financial rather than judicial. This encourages the landlord to act.
The practical conclusion: follow the legal steps, document everything, and let the courts and institutions do the work. The system gives tenants real leverage, but only when it is used correctly.
FAQs about landlord maintenance duties in France
What is a logement décent and how does it affect my tenancy?
A logement décent is a rental property that meets minimum standards of physical safety, health, and habitability defined by Décret n° 2002-120 of 30 January 2002, as most recently amended by Décret n° 2023-796 of 18 August 2023. Every landlord governed by Loi n° 89-462 of 6 July 1989 must deliver and maintain a decent home throughout the tenancy. The standards now cover six areas: structural soundness and weather-tightness, air-tightness, ventilation and air quality, natural light, heating and sanitation, and energy performance (added from 1 January 2025). A property rated DPE class G is now non-decent for any new or renewed lease in metropolitan France, and class F becomes non-decent from 1 January 2028.
For tenants, this matters in a very direct way. If your home does not meet one or more of these standards, you have the right to write to your landlord requesting compliance. If they fail to respond or refuse to act within two months of your written request, you can refer the matter to the Commission départementale de conciliation, or go directly to the Tribunal judiciaire. A judge can order the required works, reduce your rent in proportion to the inconvenience caused, suspend rent payments, and award compensation for losses you have suffered as a result of living in a non-decent home.
The decent housing standard is a legally guaranteed baseline. It cannot be waived, limited, or removed by any clause in a tenancy agreement. A clause that attempts to do so is void by operation of law under Article 4 of Loi n° 89-462.
What repairs is my landlord legally required to carry out?
Under Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462, a landlord must deliver a decent dwelling and keep it in a usable condition throughout the tenancy. They must carry out all repairs that are not defined as the tenant's responsibility. Major structural works, referred to as grosses réparations under Article 606 of the Code civil, belong firmly to the landlord. Article 606 identifies these as works affecting thick walls, vaulted structures, roofing in its entirety, retaining walls, and fencing. In practice, courts have consistently extended the concept to cover all works of lasting importance to the building's structure or core systems: heating installations, electrical and gas networks, external joinery (menuiseries), and structural elements of any kind.
The ANIL's guidance of 16 September 2025 confirms that repairs caused by vétusté (natural ageing and wear), construction defects, and force majeure events (storms, floods, subsidence, fire damage not caused by the tenant) also fall to the landlord. A boiler that has simply worn out after fifteen years of use is not a tenant repair. Neither is a floor covering that has degraded through regular occupation over many years. These are costs of ownership.
Tenants are responsible only for small-scale, day-to-day upkeep as defined by the Décret du 26 août 1987 on réparations locatives: changing lightbulbs and fuses, carrying out the annual service on an individual boiler, keeping drains clear, and making minor cosmetic repairs resulting from normal use. The full list in the 1987 decree is exhaustive: if a repair is not listed there, it is the landlord's responsibility.
My landlord has a class G DPE. Can they still rent to me legally?
Not for new or renewed leases signed from 1 January 2025. Since that date, a property classified as energy class G under the Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique no longer meets the decent housing standard in metropolitan France. Any landlord who signs a new lease or renews an existing one on a class G property is in breach of Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462, as amended by the Loi Climat et Résilience of 22 August 2021 (Loi n° 2021-1104). The ADEME confirms that the DPE assessment takes into account the property's primary energy consumption and estimated greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in kWh/m²/year and kgCO2eq/m²/year respectively.
If you are currently renting a class G property on a lease that began before 1 January 2025, the new standard applies the next time that lease comes up for renewal or tacit extension. At that point, you can write to your landlord asking them to bring the property into compliance with the energy performance threshold. If they refuse, you can approach the Commission départementale de conciliation and, ultimately, the Tribunal judiciaire. A judge can order renovation works, reduce your rent, or award compensation.
Since 24 August 2022, landlords of F and G class properties have also been prohibited from raising rent at renewal or reletting. If your landlord has attempted to increase your rent on such a property since that date, that increase was unlawful and you can request repayment of any overpaid amount. Seek advice from your local ADIL on the correct process for doing so.
What is a mise en demeure and how do I send one?
A mise en demeure is a formal written notice that puts your landlord on legal notice: they must act, and the clock is now running. It is an essential step because it starts the two-month waiting period required before you can approach the Commission départementale de conciliation for a non-decency complaint under Article 20-1 of Loi n° 89-462. It also creates a dated, evidenced record confirming you formally raised the issue and your landlord failed to respond.
Send it by lettre recommandée avec avis de réception (LRAR): registered mail with a signed return receipt from La Poste. The letter should describe the problem precisely: name the defect, state the date it arose, and explain how it affects your ability to use the property normally. Cite the relevant legal obligation: typically Article 6 of Loi n° 89-462 and, for structural or decency issues, Décret n° 2002-120. Set a reasonable deadline for a response or the start of repair work: between 15 and 30 days is typical for urgent issues, and up to 60 days for less urgent ones.
Keep a copy of the letter and file the signed return receipt carefully. These two documents are your core evidence in any later proceedings. Your local ADIL (Agence DĂ©partementale d'Information sur le Logement) provides free model letters for the mise en demeure and can review your draft before you send it. This costs nothing and significantly reduces the risk of procedural errors.
Can I stop paying rent if my landlord refuses to carry out repairs?
No. Stopping rent payments without a court order is one of the most dangerous things a tenant in France can do. Even when the landlord is clearly in breach of their legal obligations, unilaterally withholding rent gives the landlord immediate grounds to apply for the termination of your lease and your eviction for non-payment. French housing courts treat rent arrears as an objective breach of the lease, regardless of the landlord's own failures.
Service-Public.fr (updated May 2024) is explicit on this point: during any dispute process (including while a case is before the Commission départementale de conciliation), the tenant must continue to pay rent and charges in full. Only a judge at the Tribunal judiciaire can authorise a different arrangement. That judge can order rent to be paid into escrow at the Caisse des dépôts et consignations rather than directly to the landlord, or can reduce or temporarily suspend rent payments. These are powerful remedies, but they are available only through the correct legal process.
The right path is: document the problem in writing, send a mise en demeure by LRAR, approach the CDC after two months if no action has been taken, and then, if that fails, take the matter to the Tribunal judiciaire. Throughout this process, continue paying rent. A judge who finds in your favour has substantial powers to compensate you, including for rent paid on a non-decent property during the period the dispute was pending.
What does the 2025 DPE rental ban mean for existing tenants?
From 1 January 2025, properties classified as energy class G under the DPE system are no longer considered decent housing in metropolitan France for new leases and lease renewals. This follows the Loi Climat et Résilience of 22 August 2021, which introduced a staged rental ban calendar: class F properties follow from 1 January 2028, and class E from 1 January 2034. Décret n° 2023-796 of 18 August 2023 incorporated these thresholds directly into the decent housing decree, Décret n° 2002-120.
For tenants currently in class G or F properties, the ban applies at the point of lease renewal or tacit extension. It does not apply retroactively to leases still running within their original fixed term. Rights grow stronger as the lease approaches its renewal date. If your landlord seeks to renew a class G lease after January 2025 without having upgraded the property's energy performance, the dwelling is legally non-decent and you can trigger the full compliance process. Landlords of F and G properties have also been prohibited from raising rent since 24 August 2022.
Wunderflats actively verifies DPE ratings on all listed properties, and the 2025 and 2028 ban dates directly affect the furnished rental market where most Wunderflats listings operate. In practice, landlords facing bans have three choices: carry out energy renovation works, sell the property, or accept that the property can no longer be let. Tenants in this situation should seek advice from their local ADIL.
What ANAH grants can landlords use to fund energy renovation?
The Agence nationale de l'habitat (ANAH) administers several grant schemes designed to help landlords fund the energy renovation works needed to meet the DPE thresholds. The main scheme is MaPrimeRĂ©nov', which provides grants for insulation improvements, heating system replacement (switching from gas or oil to a heat pump, for example), ventilation upgrades, and other energy efficiency measures. The grant level depends on the landlord's income and the scale of the works. A landlord who achieves a minimum energy gain through renovation (typically moving at least two DPE classes) is eligible for the highest grant rates.
Landlords who combine MaPrimeRĂ©nov' with a Loc'Avantages commitment (agreeing to rent at capped rates below the local market average for a minimum period) can access additional support. This makes the combination of renovation grant and rent capping more financially accessible than it might initially appear, particularly for smaller landlords with a single property.
Applications are made through the ANAH portal at anah.gouv.fr. Using an accredited Mon Accompagnateur RĂ©nov' (MAR) operator is strongly advisable: the MAR audits the property, prepares the file, supervises the works, and ensures the renovation achieves the required energy level. Tenants can raise the existence of these grants explicitly in written correspondence with their landlord, particularly where the landlord has cited renovation cost as a reason for not acting.
Where can I find free advice on landlord repair disputes in France?
The ADIL network (Agences DĂ©partementales d'Information sur le Logement) is the first and best resource for any tenant in France facing a repair or decency dispute. There is an ADIL in every department. Their advisers provide free, neutral, and fully personalised legal guidance on housing questions: repairs, non-decency, DPE compliance, the correct procedure for a mise en demeure, and how to prepare a case for the Tribunal judiciaire. They also provide model letters for every stage. Find your nearest ADIL at anil.org.
The Commission départementale de conciliation in each department provides a free, non-binding mediation service. The Service-Public.fr directory at lannuaire.service-public.gouv.fr lists all CDC offices by location. For straightforward repair disputes, the CDC often resolves matters without needing to go to court. If conciliation fails, the Tribunal judiciaire is the next step: for claims below a certain threshold you do not need a lawyer, and the ADIL can help you prepare your file.
If you receive housing benefit (APL, ALF, or ALS), contact your CAF or CMSA office. Where a decency inspection confirms the property is substandard, they can withhold the benefit from the landlord as a lever to encourage renovation. This follows the mechanism analysed in ANIL analysis n° 2015-03. This operates separately from court proceedings and can run in parallel with a CDC or Tribunal judiciaire process, adding a second source of pressure on the landlord.
Sources
- Loi n° 89-462 du 6 juillet 1989 tendant à améliorer les rapports locatifs, version consolidée en vigueur janvier 2025, Légifrance
- Décret n° 2002-120 du 30 janvier 2002 relatif aux caractéristiques du logement décent (version consolidée), Légifrance
- Article 606 du Code civil (grosses réparations), Légifrance
- Décret n° 2023-796 du 18 août 2023 relatif aux caractéristiques du logement décent (intégration des seuils DPE), Légifrance
- Loi n° 2021-1104 du 22 août 2021 portant lutte contre le dérèglement climatique et renforcement de la résilience face à ses effets (Loi Climat et Résilience), Légifrance
- ANIL, Analyse juridique : Performance énergétique et décence, mise à jour septembre 2023
- ANIL, Parole d'expert : Locataire ou propriétaire, qui paie les réparations dans une location ?, mise à jour 16 septembre 2025
- Service-Public.fr, Dans quel cas saisir la commission départementale de conciliation (CDC) ?, vérifié mai 2024
- Service-Public.fr, Propriétaires bailleurs: les passoires thermiques ne peuvent plus être mises en location, 2025
- Caisse des dépôts et consignations, Consignez votre loyer en cas de litige avec votre propriétaire
- ANAH: Agence nationale de l'habitat, MaPrimeRénov' et programmes de rénovation énergétique
- ADEME, Comprendre le Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique (DPE)
- Wunderflats internal data, Jun 2025–May 2026 (Paris furnished rental bookings); July 2026 (zone tendue listings)
