Residential Lease Agreements: Changes Effective from 1 October 2026

Decree no. 2026-596 of 6 July 2026 amends the standard residential lease agreement. As of today, any new or renewed lease—whether unfurnished or furnished, and serving as a primary residence—must comply with these new obligations. Existing leases remain unaffected, except upon renewal.

Here is what concretely changes for landlords in Paris.

1. The forfeiture clause becomes mandatory in the standard contract

This is the most structural change for landlords. Until 30 September 2026, the clause résolutoire (forfeiture clause) was optional; it had to be expressly inserted into the lease to be enforceable. As of 1 October, it is integrated into the official standard contract: every new lease now includes one by law.

What this changes in practice: in the event of non-payment of rent, service charges, or the security deposit, the termination of the lease can be declared automatically without the need to prove that the clause was negotiated and accepted. The timeframe remains unchanged: six weeks after an unsuccessful formal demand to pay, issued by a bailiff (huissier).

Important: the forfeiture clause does not equate to an automatic eviction. Legal proceedings remain mandatory. What changes is the procedural robustness of the case for the landlord: the clause can no longer be contested on the grounds of non-inclusion.

Two new optional forfeiture clauses are also authorised:

• Failure to take out home insurance — termination possible one month after an unsuccessful formal notice.
• Violation of the obligations of peaceful enjoyment — but only if a court has previously established the disturbance.

2. Mandatory disclosure of primary residence servitude

Certain new-build properties located in municipalities where urban planning regulations impose exclusive use as a primary residence must now explicitly state this in the lease.

This measure stems directly from the loi Le Meur (Le Meur Law) of November 2024 regarding the regulation of short-term tourist rentals. It aims to prevent properties subject to this servitude from being let for short periods (e.g., Airbnb) or occupied as secondary residences in violation of the local PLU (Local Urban Plan).

Who is affected in Paris? For the time being, the properties concerned are new-build units within developments where the servitude was imposed by the local authority during the granting of the building permit. Older Haussmann-style properties are not currently subject to this measure.

A specific forfeiture clause may be added to the lease to allow for termination if the tenant fails to comply with this obligation.

3. Mobile phone numbers: a now formalised option

The new standard contract includes an optional field for the mobile phone numbers of both the landlord and the tenant.

The stated goal of the decree: to facilitate direct contact in the event of occasional payment difficulties before the situation deteriorates. This is a significant signal in the post-arrears crisis context: landlords who were able to reach their tenants promptly managed incidents significantly better.

What this changes: nothing is mandatory, but formalisation within the standard contract encourages the practice. Official correspondence (formal demands, notices) must still be written and notified by post or via a bailiff's act.

What does not change

The decree does not modify the following elements, despite rumours to the contrary:

• Minimum lease durations: 3 years for an unfurnished property (individual landlord), 1 year for a furnished property.
• Notice periods: 3 months for the landlord, 1 month for the tenant in high-demand areas (zone tendue).
• Security deposit: 1 month for an unfurnished property, 2 months for a furnished property.
• Rent control in Paris: unchanged; the 2026 reference rents remain those of the decree of 20 July 2026.

What you must do before signing a new lease

1. Use an updated standard contract. Models prior to 1 October 2026 are no longer compliant. If you use a management agency, ensure they have updated their templates.

2. Verify that the forfeiture clause is present. It must explicitly mention the six-week timeframe and the grounds (rent, charges, security deposit, home insurance).

3. Identify if your property is subject to a primary residence servitude. If you have acquired a new-build property since 2020 in a development subject to this servitude, review your sales documents (subdivision regulations, deed of sale).

4. Keep proof of your amicable efforts. The formalisation of mobile numbers in the lease reinforces the importance of preliminary discussions in the event of proceedings; a timestamped reminder SMS can usefully supplement your file.

At PNW Partners, we draft and review our clients' leases in accordance with current legislation. If you have a lease to renew or sign before the end of the year, contact us for a review.