Phase 0 · Understanding Concierge Services

Is your property eligible?

Just five checks are all it takes to find out if your home can be rented out as a furnished vacation rental.

Before we talk about photos, listings, and pricing, there’s one important question to ask first: Is your property eligible for short-term rental? In Toulon, as everywhere else in France, operating a furnished vacation rental involves certain requirements, ranging from the condominium bylaws to energy efficiency standards. This page goes over them one by one.

The good news: the verification process is quick. There are five items to check, most of which you already have or can obtain from your property manager and the local municipality. Phase 2 of this wiki then details each step required to ensure compliance.

Landmark

Before publishing any ad, you must provide us with a sworn statement confirming these points. This statement is binding on you—which is why it’s important to verify the information thoroughly rather than make assumptions.

The Eligibility Checklist

Verification

What You Need

Condominium

The bylaws must not prohibit furnished short-term rentals for tourists, and no general meeting must have prohibited them

Use of the Property

The property must not be your primary residence if you intend to use it year-round

Change in Use

Check with your local municipality: Toulon has not yet implemented this, but any municipality may decide to do so by resolution

Energy Efficiency

A valid energy performance certificate. Properties rated F or G are already excluded from new rental listings in areas subject to a change of use.

Decency and Safety

Standard technical inspections; housing that meets standards of decency

The Case of the Primary Residence

If the property is your primary residence—that is, if you live there for at least eight months a year—you may rent it out, but only for a limited number of days per year and under different rules. The energy efficiency requirement does not apply to this property. Section 2.1 provides details on the corresponding declaration.

The Case of Condominium Ownership

Two things to keep in mind: review the bylaws, and verify that no general meeting has voted to impose a ban. The law now allows a condominium association to ban furnished short-term rentals through a supermajority vote. And if you’re required to do so, notify the property manager of your activity: Section 2.3 outlines the steps to follow.

Good to Know

To date, Toulon has not established a procedure for changing land use: this is a real advantage compared to other coastal municipalities. However, nothing prevents it from deciding to do so tomorrow through a resolution, which is why an annual review is conducted.

The Mistake to Avoid

Buying a property to rent out on a short-term basis without having the condominium bylaws reviewed. A clause restricting the property to residential use is often sufficient to prohibit furnished short-term rentals for tourists, and no property management company will be able to change that.

Points to Watch For

This verification must be repeated every year. Zoning regulations and local rules are changing, and the mayor has expanded authority over the rental of furnished vacation rentals.
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is becoming an operational criterion. Properties rated F and G are already excluded from new rental listings in areas subject to a change of use: plan ahead if your property is energy-inefficient.
The sworn statement is binding. It certifies all of these points before the ad is published: any doubts must be addressed before you sign, not after.

Warning

A primary residence and year-round rental are incompatible: if you occupy the property for at least eight months a year, short-term rentals are still permitted but subject to a daily limit. For rentals without a limit, the property must be a second home or a rental investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Toulon require authorization for a change of use?

Not yet: the municipality has not implemented it. However, any municipality can decide to do so by resolution, and section 2.2 explains what would change for you if that were to happen.

Can I rent out my primary residence on a short-term basis?

Yes, subject to an annual limit on the number of days and under a specific reporting system. The energy efficiency requirement does not apply in this case.

My lease contains a "middle-class housing" clause: Is that a problem?

Often, yes, especially if the clause is exclusive. Have a professional review it before you invest or sign: it’s the analysis of the clause that matters, not its title.

Does an energy performance rating of F or G prevent you from renting out a property?

In areas subject to land-use changes, the answer is yes for new rental listings. Elsewhere, the timeline for meeting energy efficiency standards is getting tighter every year: an energy-inefficient property requires a renovation plan, as discussed on page 7.4.