The French Riviera is an enchanting destination, attracting many foreigners who invest in properties along this beautiful coastline. However, if you're considering renting out your property, there are specific regulations to adhere to. Today, we delve into the regulations pertaining to the city of Nice.

Please be aware that the regulations discussed in this article specifically pertain to the commune of Nice. Additionally, individual house bylaws may explicitly prohibit short-term renting within a particular building. Then even if you are following the cities guidelines, renting on a shorter-term basis might still be restricted within your building. Therefore, it is crucial to verify and adhere to the bylaws of your building to ensure compliance

Primary Residence Advantage:

If your apartment serves as your primary residence for at least 8 months annually, you can effortlessly rent it out for the remaining 4 months or 120 days without requiring additional authorization. This streamlined process is a perk for those calling Nice home for the majority of the year.

Secondary residence

Renting out your property in Nice for longer terms, exceeding one year, doesn't require specific permission. However, if you're considering shorter-term rentals, certain regulations come into play. Here are some strategies to enable short-term rentals for your secondary residence.

Short term renting without restrictions:

To rent out your apartment for short-term stays in Nice without restrictions, you must obtain authorization. Seeking authorization involves applying for a change of usage at the mayor's office. Renting out your apartment is considered a commercial activity in France, necessitating a shift from a residential to commercial classification. However, obtaining approval for this change can be very challenging, as it requires the house bylaws to permit commercial activity, which is often rare.

The difficulty in obtaining a change of usage stems from the communal interest in maintaining apartments as residences, not commercial spaces. The reluctance to allow this change is rooted in ensuring a stable housing market for the local population. The increase in short-term rentals, driven by higher potential income, has limited the availability of long-term rental options, making it harder for residents to secure apartments for extended periods.

However, obtaining this authorization, which is notably challenging, grants permission for one year. The authorization is automatically renewed annually if there are no issues, up to a maximum of five years. After this period, you can no longer renew the permission. To continue renting out the apartment, you must then convert another area. Essentially, this involves transforming a commercial space equivalent to the residential space you've converted for the purpose of renting out. If you reach this stage, you may choose to delve deeper into these regulations for a more comprehensive understanding.

As a final note on this strategy, we leave you with this:

The city has become increasingly hesitant to grant these permissions. In various instances, owners have faced denials when seeking authorization for short-term rentals. Consequently, these regulations have proven highly effective in dissuading the city of Nice from allowing apartments to enter the short-term rental market. As a result, many property owners opt for alternative strategies. If you still wish to pursue authorization, carefully review the bylaws of your building. It's essential that the bylaws explicitly state that apartments in the building can be utilized as commercial spaces. If this requirement is not met, continue reading to explore other avenues for renting out your apartment.

Student Rental Strategy:

Another option is to rent your property to students for 8 months annually, adhering to specific rent regulations. This approach caters to the student demographic while offering flexibility for short-term rentals during the remaining 120 days.

Mobility Leases:

Mobility leases have gained popularity due to tightening regulations. These leases allow owners to rent out their apartments for 1-10 months, with a minimum requirement of 30+ days per reservation. This gives the owners flexibility to rent out their properties while still being able to enjoy their investments. Mobility leases do come with limitations.

First is that you will not be benefiting from the same high prices during peak demand periods as shorter rentings.

Mobility leases are also only available to guests meeting specific criteria, including vocational training, higher education, apprenticeship contracts, internships, voluntary commitments, occupational transfers, and temporary assignments related to professional activities.  Other restrictions is that the mobility lease can not be renewed or extended, and the landlord cannot require a security deposit from the tenant. As a result, platforms such as Airbnb have gained popularity for facilitating short-term rentals under mobility leases, as they offer insurance coverage to safeguard the property owner.

The advantage of mobility leases is that they do not require additional authorization, making them an accessible option for apartment owners in Nice.

Thank you for exploring our guide on the regulations surrounding renting out your apartment in Nice. We trust that this information equips you to choose the strategy that aligns best with your needs. Once you've selected your strategy, there are two essential steps before you're ready to rent out. First, register with the tourist tax office, and second, obtain a tax number from the government to fulfill your tax obligations on rental income. Stay tuned for more detailed insights into these processes in our upcoming pieces.

Now, why consider our advice?

We are a rental management company specializing in assisting foreign owners in renting out their properties along the French Riviera, actively managing 22 properties from Nice to Cannes. Our comprehensive service covers the entire rental process, aiming to simplify things for owners who seek to rent out their spaces without the associated workload. If this resonates with you, feel free to reach out for a meeting to explore potential collaboration. If our services don't align with your needs, we hope this guide provided value, and we wish you the best of luck in renting out your property.