The government's announcement of the start of the new school year for meublés de tourisme is a little premature. Indeed, from September onwards, the schedule looks set to be more challenging for owners. They'll have to resolve profitability issues in light of a tax increase announced on July 18. It is based on fourteen key measures, the implementation of which has yet to be specified. However, four of them appear to be among the executive's priorities.
New 1 Return to the status of heat sieve
Until now, meublés de tourisme have enjoyed a happy life, since they can consume more than 450 kilowatt-hours per square metre per year (class G+) without being labelled "heat sinks". Unlike permanent rentals, they can also accommodate the public. This situation has put pressure on the formerhousing minister, Olivier Klein, who wants the same prohibition rules to apply to short-term rentals too. According to the Minister's office, "the aim is not to allow owners who rent out their properties on a year-round basis to avoid having to carry out the work by renting them out on a tourist basis".
New 2 Extension of the tax on vacant dwellings
In the former housing minister's binder, we also find a new zoning scheme for vacant dwellings. The tax on vacant dwellings (TLV) applies exclusively to municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants where there is a significant imbalance between supply and demand. The tax applies to dwellings unoccupied for more than two consecutive years on January1 of the tax year. From January1, 2024, more than 2,250 new mountain and coastal tourist communities will be included in the TLV zoning. Olivier Klein adds: "My priority is to ensure that everyone can find the accommodation they need, particularly in tourist areas where the difficulties of accessing housing have increased in recent years".
New 3 Increase in property tax
This new TLV zoning will target a total of 3,700 communes, which will also be able to surcharge owners of second homes. The effect will be to increase council tax by up to 60%. As of January1, 2024, each municipal council concerned will be able to decide on this housing tax increase, within a range of 5% to 60%.
New 4 Priority for primary residences
The Ministry of Housing is also laying the groundwork for local urban planning schemes (PLU). It is planning to create a housing easement that would designate properties exclusively for use as principal residences. This would enable local authorities to ensure a balanced housing stock from the outset. As a reminder, a principal residence is a dwelling occupied for at least eight months of the year. According to the Ministry, "this would be a system equivalent to that of the servitude de mixité sociale, which applies social housing percentages to new developments".
It remains to be seen what other measures will deprive meublés de tourisme of a few rays of sunshine in terms of profitability, given this increase in taxation. However, there is a glimmer of light in the shape of Loc'Avantages, a scheme enabling lessors to benefit from a tax reduction if they rent out their property at moderate rents. It will be extended to tourist areas to develop a sustainable rental offer.
Sources: immobilier.lefigaro.fr and www.service-public.fr