Renting out your property: the landlord’s guide in 2026

Renting a home is not something you improvise. Between mandatory diagnostics, decency rules, and tenant selection, every step matters to rent calmly and avoid disputes. Here is a clear overview of the procedures to know before handing over the keys.

Check that the property is rentable

First of all, your property must be decent. The law requires a minimum living area, no health risks, and, for a few years now, an energy performance level.

This is where the DPE (Energy Performance Diagnosis) comes into play. Since January 1, 2025, homes rated G are banned from rental, whether for a new lease or a renewal. The ban will extend to F-rated homes in 2028, then to E-rated homes in 2034. Good news for some owners: since January 2026, the DPE calculation method has been revised for homes heated by electricity, which has removed hundreds of thousands of properties from the thermal sieve status without any work. Before you start, gathering all the information you need to rent out a property will save you unpleasant surprises when signing. A non-compliant home exposes you to penalties and tenant claims.

Carry out the mandatory diagnostics

No rental can start without a complete technical diagnostic file attached to the lease. Depending on the age and location of the property, several documents are required.

• The DPE, valid for 10 years, mandatory and now displayed from the advertisement.
• The risk statement (natural, mining, technological) depending on the property’s zone.
• The lead exposure risk report for properties built before 1949.
• The gas and electricity diagnostics when installations are over fifteen years old.
• The measurement of the living area, essential for the lease.

Generally, expect to pay between 100 and 250 euros for a DPE, an expense deductible from your rental income under the actual regime. It is better to entrust these diagnostics to a certified professional, as their reliability engages your responsibility.

Set the rent and prepare the lease

The rent amount is not always freely decided. In tight zones subject to rent control, a ceiling applies according to the neighborhood and property type.

Another point to know: homes rated F or G have had rent freezes since 2022, with no increase possible between tenants. Regarding the contract, the lease complies with the 1989 law. An unfurnished rental is signed for three renewable years, versus one year for furnished, or nine months for a student lease. The security deposit is capped at one month’s rent excluding charges for an unfurnished home, and two months for a furnished one. Take the time to draft a precise lease, as it governs the entire rental relationship.

Choose your tenant and secure the rents

Selecting the tenant remains a sensitive step. You can request proof of income and identity, but the list of required documents is strictly regulated by law.

To limit the risk of unpaid rent, several solutions exist. A guarantor can act as a surety, or you can subscribe to a rent guarantee insurance. A non-occupant landlord insurance also protects your property in case of damage. Finally, never neglect the move-in inspection: carefully conducted, with photos to support it, it will save you many disagreements when the tenant leaves.

Manage yourself or delegate?

Once the tenant is settled, the question of daily management remains. Rent collection, annual revision, receipts, maintenance, tax declaration: the workload is real.

Some owners manage everything themselves, especially for a single nearby property. Others prefer to entrust this task to a rental management professional, for a commission on the rents. The right choice depends on your available time, distance, and your ease with administrative procedures. In any case, being well informed beforehand remains the best way to turn a property into a regular and stress-free income.

Frequently Asked Questions

To go further

• Mandatory property diagnostics for renting (service-public.gouv.fr)