Your questions,
our answers
Eiffel Housing – how we work differently
1. Who we are

We are a real estate agency specialized in long term furnished and unfurnished rentals and property management.
Additionally, we make transactions for our customers who trust our service, our advice and our professionalism and who want personalized assistance.

We are professional rental and management cardholders #G6282 and professional transaction cardholders #T15590 both issued by the Paris Police Headquarters. Our professional insurance contract is subscribed with MMA.

Our offices are located 91 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré – 75008 Paris

2. What makes you different from other agencies?

Approximately 40% of our leases are signed with companies for them to accommodate their expats (in which case the rent is entirely or partially paid by the employer). Over 50% of our tenants are foreigners.

We exclusively choose « premium » tenants offering all necessary guarantees in terms of reliability and solvency that have been carefully checked.
We also provide property management.

Our customers value our « honest advice » and our ability to defend their interests on the long term.

3. In what area do you operate?

We cover Paris, Neuilly sur Seine, Boulogne, Levallois-Perret with a preference for the center and West of Paris.

4. What kind of apartments are you searching for?

We are constantly searching for new properties to rent or manage in Paris and the West inner suburbs.

On an increasingly selective market we closely select well-kept apartments for our “premium” customers.

Long-term rent vs short-term rent
5. Why don't you offer short term rentals?

Short term rentals are being increasingly regulated and many owners are not familiar with the numerous requirements that need to be met.

- Short term rentals are authorized without any particular conditions for a maximum of 4 months a year providing it is the owner's main residence
- in the case of a secondary residence, the owner must register at the Mairie de Paris to request a use change to touristic furnished rental and obtain authorization for seasonal rental. The cost of use change is between 1,000 and 2,000€/sq.m according to the neighborhood
- Authorized properties are listed on opendata.paris.fr

Violators face increasingly substantial fines from the Mairie de Paris.

6. What are the benefits of renting long term?

Long term rentals offer many benefits:
- the legal framework is clear
- the rental income is easier to forecast
- long term apartments are better kept and maintained by the tenants

Finding a tenant
7. How long does it take to find the perfect tenant?

If the apartment is ready to rent and aligned with the appropriate price range, the average delay for finding a « premium » tenant (an individual or an expat accommodated by his employer) is 2 weeks.

8. Is it possible to rent exclusively to companies providing accommodation for their employees?

Yes under certain conditions :
- the apartments must be located in the center and western parts of Paris including the inner western suburbs
- the apartment must be entirely renewed or in perfect condition
- for furnished apartments, the furniture must be modern, elegant, either new or in perfect condition

As it is a niche market, supply exceeds demand. Despite our close ties with the market’s players, we recommend to not exclusively limit to this target.

9. What is the average rental period?

The average rental period is of 12 to 18 months for a furnished apartment and 3 to 4 years for an unfurnished apartment. These figures are similar for foreigners and expats.

Preparing your rental
10. Furnished or unfurnished?

It all depends on how long you are planning to rent your apartment, its size and your ability to furnish it.

We can assist you in making the best choice according to your situation.

11. How set the price?

The Parisian rental market is quite transparent since all the offers are on line. However, in certain cases the August 2015 rent control regulations (“ALUR law”) may have an impact.

We can assist you in setting the appropriate price based on market conditions and our expertise. Our objective is to help maximize your annual rental income while minimizing vacancies. Keep in mind that for each month of vacancy the annual rental income drops by 8%.

12. Which steps should be taken before renting?

the apartment must be in perfect condition
- small repairs should be anticipated (bulbs, sanitary facilities, door knobs...)
- a smoke detector is mandatory since February 2015
- it's wise to have enough sets of keys (of which one should be available for the visits)
- the apartment should be tidy and clean (for photo shooting and visits)
- for furnished apartments household linen and all necessary equipment should be provided (list available)
- the apartment should be « neutral » (free of personal belongings, books, pictures...)

Rent safely
13. Are there any administrative procedures?

Several diagnoses (“diagnostics”) are mandatory for furnished and unfurnished long term rentals :
- Surface measurement certificate (Boutin or Carrez law - unlimited validity unless transformation)
- the DPE (Energy Performance Diagnosis – valid 10 years)
- the CREP (Lead Exposure Risk – for buildings prior to 1949 – valid 6 years)
- the ERNMT (Natural, Mining and Technological Risks) valid 6 months issued free of charge by the mairie or on http://paris-a-la-carte-version-pl.paris.fr/
- Amiante Privatif (Asbestos control)
- Electricity diagnosis (valid 3 years)
- Gas diagnosis (valid 3 years)

We can assist you if needed in case these diagnoses have not yet been executed.

You must subscribe a non-owner occupied property insurance to cover any damage occuring in the common areas or during apartment vacancies.

You can inform the tax department in order for them not to claim the occupancy tax if you have a tenant on January 1st.

If we are in charge of managing your property we will handle all the necessary steps.

14. Is it possible to rent as a non-trading real estate company (SCI or SARL)?

There is no difficulty for unfurnished rentals, however there are some restrictions for furnished rentals. The SCI must necessarily be subject to corporate tax for furnished rentals.

15. What is the leasing period?

The leasing period is of 3 years for an unfurnished apartment and 1 year for a furnished apartment. For company paid accommodation leases and secondary residences, both parties can freely agree on the duration.

16. What is the security deposit for? What is the amount?

The security deposit is of one month's rent (rental costs not included) for an unfurnished apartment and two month's rent (rental costs not included) for a furnished apartment

The security deposit guarantees the apartment from any defects or damage and covers cleaning or repairs left undone by the tenant.

17. What is the period of notice?

The tenant is free to terminate the lease whenever he wants providing he sends you a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. A one month notice begins upon the date of reception.

As owner, you must give 6 months notice before lease expiration for an unfurnished apartment or 3 months for a furnished one.

18. Do you offer loss of rent insurance?

We do not.

for a company lease this insurance is useless. The company signature on the lease offers far more guarantees than a loss of rent insurance
for an individual our drastic selection process leaves no chance for doubtful candidates

So far we have never had any loss of rent but you are free to subscribe a contract and inform us.

19. Do you offer a non-owner occupied property insurance?

We work with an insurance broker offering competitive contracts. In case we manage your property we can take care of the subscription for you.

20. What are your fees?

Property management based on our hands-on approach and rigorous follow-up is time consuming. Our management fees range between 7 and 8.3% (tax not included) of the rent. Our fees are tax-deductible.

A significant discount on our rental fees is applicable for properties we ensure management for.

Understanding and optimizing taxation
21. How is unfurnished rental income taxed?

Rental income is scaled as any income and is therefore also subject to social contributions (CSG / CRDS).

For rental income less than 15,000€ a year the « micro foncier » plan allows a 30% relief on the taxable income

For rental income above 15,000€ a year the « régime réel » plan allows to deduct from the taxable income all expenses related to the rental (co-property charges, repairs, insurance,

22. How is furnished rental income taxed?

Rental income is scaled as any income and is therefore also subject to social contributions (CSG / CRDS).

For rental income less than 33,200€ a year the « micro BIC » plan allows a 50% tax relief on the taxable income

For rental income above 33,200€ a year (or below if requested), the « régime réel » plan allows to deduct from the taxable income all expenses related to the rental (co-property charges, repairs, insurance, property tax, loan interest...) including accounting depreciation. This amortization significantly reduces the taxable income and in many cases is liable to annul it.

23. How is the rental income taxed if I live abroad?

It is scaled as if you were a French resident (see questions 21 & 22)

The flat tax rate is 20%. Except for non-European residents, social contributions are due (CSG / CRDS)

24. Is it more tax-efficient to rent furnished than unfurnished?

The tax plans for furnished rentals (« micro BIC » and « régime réel » are more favorable than those for unfurnished rentals. The 2 to 3% /year amortization of the property value significantly reduces the taxable revenue and in many cases is liable to annul it.

Nevertheless, other factors need to be considered (personal situation, state of the rental market) in order make the right choice between furnished or unfurnished. We will be glad to assist you.

25. Can you assist me in choosing the best tax plan?

Our customers consider us more as a partner than a supplier. Being neither tax accountants nor tax lawyers, our expertise in tax rules and their subtleties are sufficient to assist you. We would be glad to recommend an accounting company if necessary.

26. Can you assist me in filling in my tax return?

Each year we send the owners whose properties we manage a report including rental income and expenses. This enables you to fill in your property tax return.

Delegating your property management
27. What is property management?

Property management handles all predictable and unpredictable events occurring during the rental period, whether financial or operational.

Please refer to the dedicated section to learn more.

28. What is your approach of property management?

Our motto is simple : “We manage properties as if they were our own”.
This challenging approach is key in order to provide excellent service to our owners, maintain their property in perfect condition and minimize vacancies between rental periods.

Please refer to the dedicated section to learn more.

29. What are your fees?

Property management based on our hands-on approach and rigorous follow-up is time consuming. Our management fees range between 7 and 8.3% (tax not included) of the rent. Our fees are tax-deductible.

A significant discount on our rental fees is applicable for properties we ensure management for.

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