Property owners fined in Paris rental dispute

A couple of property owners in Paris were fined 5000 euros each by a court, despite the city having requested fines of 200,000 euros in total. The case involved their use of a small apartment rented out through Airbnb, which they managed through a concierge service.

Rental management through a concierge

The couple rented a small Parisian apartment on Airbnb since May 2023, for 90 nights that year. They delegated the management of the service to a concierge, who signed leases on their behalf.

Lease compliance and legal issues

The concierge provided the property owners with a certificate stating it committed to only signing leases compliant with the law. However, it signed civil leases for more than two years after the entry into force of the Le Meur law, which restricts long-term rentals for tourists.

Civil leases and their implications

Civil leases were recognized as unsuitable for tourist rentals, as they allowed property owners or concierges to rent out a property for several months to the same tenant, rather than per night. Six such leases were concluded in 2024 and 2025.

Estimated earnings and legal arguments

The city of Paris estimates the couple earned 5490 euros in 2023, more than 13,000 euros in 2024, and 10,000 euros in 2025, totaling approximately 30,000 euros. The property owners argued that the concierge should have informed them about the civil leases, which they believed violated the law.

Fines and mitigating factors

The judge considered several mitigating circumstances, including the couple’s cooperation during an inspection and the fact that they ceased the activity before the inspection. The judge also noted that it was the concierge that set and signed the civil leases.

Court’s final decision

The court imposed a fine of 2500 euros per property owner, significantly less than the 100,000 euros requested by the city. The concierge service was fined 10,000 euros, slightly more than the commissions it received from the rentals.

Concierge’s defense and commission

During the proceedings, the concierge service requested a reduction in the fine, arguing that it was merely an agent receiving a 15% TTC commission of the rents collected for managing the rentals.