A small studio of 9 m2 "near Wagram" (17th century) rented for 600 euros, a studio "ideal for a student rental" near the Eiffel Tower displayed at 905 euros, a two-room apartment in the 8th arrondissement at 1,500 euros ... classified ads sites, there are many rental proposals that do not comply with the rent framework in force since July 1. According to a study by the consumer defense association CLCV, which Le Parisien reveals exclusively, almost one out of two advertisements does not comply.
44% of illegal ads. After an analysis of 1000 advertisements representative of the Parisian market, published between July and November, the association shows that only 56% of the advertisements respect the rent ceilings set by the authorities. "We see that in 2018, the year in which there was no longer any rental supervision, the number of compliant ads had increased to 48% compared to 62% in 2017," explains David Rodrigues, in charge of private housing at the CLCV. In other words: the regulation of rents would make it possible to maintain their increase.
The smaller it is, the less it is respected. Tenants of small surfaces, studios in particular, are the ones who should be the most wary of rents. According to the CLCV, only 50% of the advertisements are legal, compared to 66% for two and three-room apartments and 78% for four and more rooms. And the overrun is not to be taken lightly: from 21% of the total rent for the studios - 122 euros more, each month, on average - to 9% for the larger apartments. Furnished rental ads are 51% illegal, compared to 41% for bare rental.
More conscientious real estate agencies. "All of our ads respect the guidelines," confided to us, a few months ago, the owner of a real estate network. But according to the CLCV, this is not the case for all ... 70% of the advertisements published by professionals respect it, against 48% for those of individuals. "It would hurt an agency not to comply with the law," says David Rodrigues. And to deplore: "But it should be 90%, not 70%! It's good, but not satisfactory. "
Less significant overruns via agencies. When the rent framework is not respected, the excess practiced by an agency is lower than by an individual: 13% of the total rent for the first against 18% for the second. "We have property that is removed from our agencies by owners because they do not want to respect the rent framework, and therefore rent from individual to individual ..." lamented in December Brice Cardi, president of the Adresse network.
Few sanctions and a lot of vagueness. As of December 1, only 21 tenants had applied to the conciliation commission to request compliance with the guidelines. "We must inform tenants about their rights," says David Rodrigues. And to ask that the decisions of the commission, which are now confidential, be made public, anonymously so that everyone, tenant and owner, can get an idea of what justifies or does not exceed the ceilings.
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Towards generalization in Ile-de-France? “Today, you just have to pass the ring road to find similar apartments more expensive… than in Paris! "Deplores the CLCV spokesperson. And for good reason: rent controls are only set up in the capital, while towns in the inner suburbs attract almost as much. "Initially, the Alur law was to set up rent controls in 1100 municipalities, but the Elan law finally decided that it would be voluntary," recalls David Rodrigues. The CLCV is now asking that the system be extended "to all of the tense areas".