ALUR law and short-term rentals: what actually applies
The French ALUR law governs classic residential leases, but what about your Airbnb furnished tourism rental? Recoverable charges, provisions, reconciliation: we clarify once and for all the rules that apply to your short-term rental activity.
ALUR law: what it says, what it doesn't
The ALUR law, officially French law n. 2014-366 of March 24, 2014 on housing access and urban renewal, has shaped the French rental market for over ten years. It mainly governs residential leases for primary residences: rent caps in tight zones, mandatory charge provisions, annual reconciliation, and the limitative list of recoverable charges from decree n. 87-712 of August 26, 1987. Rules that reassure long-term tenants.
But your Airbnb studio rented per night does not fall under this regime. Furnished tourism rentals are governed by the French Tourism Code, particularly article L.324-1 which defines furnished tourism rentals as villas, apartments, or furnished studios rented to a transient clientele who don't establish their residence there. It follows its own logic: declaration at city hall, optional classification, LMNP or LMP status, seasonal rental contract governed by the Civil Code and not by the 1989 law.
Concretely, this changes everything for energy rebilling. No requirement for monthly charge provisions. No reconciliation constrained by decree. You can include electricity in the nightly rate, bill it as a flat fee, or rebill it based on actual usage via a prepayment system. The only constraint: transparent disclosure to the guest before booking. First, you need to know which regime you fall under.
3 steps to clarify your legal regime
A simple diagnosis to choose the right rebilling method
Qualify your activity
Rental under 90 consecutive days to a transient clientele: this is a furnished tourism rental (Tourism Code). Beyond that, you may fall under a residential regime subject to the ALUR law.
Draft the guest disclosure
Seasonal rental contract, terms, or Airbnb listing: clearly mention the energy billing method (included, flat fee, prepayment per kWh). This replaces ALUR provisions and secures your contractual relationship.
Choose the rebilling method
Fixed flat fee included in the price: compatible with any activity. Real-time prepayment via our connected meters: regime specific to furnished tourism rentals, transparent and compliant with article 23-1 of law 89-462.
What the law precisely says about your Airbnb
Three principles to remember before setting your billing policy
ALUR excludes classified furnished tourism rentals
A property declared as a furnished tourism rental at city hall (article L.324-1 of the Tourism Code) escapes ALUR obligations on provisions and reconciliation. You bill freely under Civil Code rules.
Watch out for long stays
A guest staying more than 90 days in your property can reclassify the rental as ordinary residential. In that case, ALUR law becomes applicable again and requires provisions plus annual reconciliation.
Transparency requirement
Since the 2024 Le Meur law, listings must specify the billing method for energy consumption. A clear written mention in the contract before booking is now an unavoidable standard.
4 strengths of the furnished tourism rental regime
Why staying in this framework is strategic for an Airbnb host
Favorable LMNP or LMP taxation
Non-professional furnished renter status allows a flat 50 % micro-BIC deduction, or property depreciation under the real regime. Impossible with classic bare rentals subject to property income tax.
Free energy rebilling
No decree framework limits recoverable charges as in residential. You include, flat-fee, or rebill at real cost according to your model. Valuable flexibility given electricity price volatility.
Zero ALUR provisions to manage
No time-consuming annual reconciliation, no supporting docs to keep for ten years, no potential dispute over a charge balance. Your accounting stays simple, so does your tenant relationship.
No rent cap
Unlike classic housing in tight zones, your nightly rate remains fully free. You adjust for season, local events, competitive supply: the market sets the price, not a prefect.
Real case: Airbnb studio in Bordeaux, two regimes compared
Same property, two legal qualifications, two very different realities
Residential ALUR regime (1989 lease)
- • Furnished lease of at least 12 months, framed by the French law of July 6, 1989
- • Mandatory monthly charge provisions, with annual reconciliation based on utility bills
- • Recoverable charges limited to decree n. 87-712 of 1987, anything outside the list stays on you
12 months
Minimum lease commitment
Furnished tourism regime (pure Airbnb)
- • Per-night rental declared at city hall, outside ALUR and 89-462 law scope
- • Energy rebilled via prepayment through our connected meters, full transparency
- • No recoverable charges to justify, everything is included in the announced nightly rate
1 night
Possible minimum stay
ALUR law and Airbnb: your frequent questions
Legal answers to remove doubts before your next stay
Does the ALUR law apply to my Airbnb?
What's the difference between seasonal rental and furnished tourism rental?
Can I charge fees to my guests in a furnished tourism rental?
Do I need to plan charge provisions like in classic rentals?
Did the 2024 Le Meur law change things?
What happens if a guest stays more than 90 days?
How do I prove my energy rebilling is legal?
Which formula should I choose between flat fee and real-cost prepayment?
Discover also
Electricity rebilling law for short-term rentals
The complete 2026 legal framework for rebilling energy in furnished rentals: article 23-1, decree 2015-587, case law, and sanctions.
VAT electricity rebilling furnished rental
The complete tax guide to VAT treatment of energy rebilling: classic furnished outside scope or para-hotel at 10 %, thresholds, and recovery.
Airbnb host electricity obligations
The complete checklist of legal and technical obligations for any short-term rental host: diagnostics, safety, guest disclosure, rebilling.
Ready to legally secure your energy rebilling?
Our team helps you qualify your activity, adapt your contract, and deploy a prepayment solution compliant with the furnished tourism regime.