1. Main home or second home?
Everything starts there. Your main home can be let short-term for up to 120 nights a year, a cap that municipalities have been able to lower to 90 nights since the Le Meur law.
A second home or a buy-to-let has no cap on nights, but is subject to other rules, in particular change of use in the cities that require it.
2. Declare and obtain a registration number
Bordeaux requires a prior declaration with a registration number for every furnished tourist rental. That number must appear on each of your Airbnb, Booking.com or Abritel listings.
For a second home, change-of-use authorisation may be necessary: check with the town hall's planning department before signing anything.
3. Check the co-ownership rules
In a flat, read the co-ownership regulations carefully. Some clauses can limit or prohibit furnished tourist letting, and the Le Meur law makes them easier to adopt in buildings used exclusively for residential purposes.
You must also inform the managing agent of your activity.
4. Anticipate the EPC
Properties let as tourist accommodation and subject to change-of-use authorisation must hold an energy performance certificate rated E at minimum, then D from 2034.
These rules change often and vary from one municipality to another, from Bordeaux to the Bassin d'Arcachon: always check with your town hall.
Sources
- Law no. 2024-1039 of 19 November 2024 (known as the Le Meur law)
- service-public.fr — Furnished tourist rental: declaration to the town hall
- City of Bordeaux — Furnished tourist rentals