The rents in France continue their rise in 2025, and undermine the household budget in a real estate market in full transformation. With an average cost of 723 euros per month included, the increase reached 3.3 % compared to 2024. This phenomenon, which extends over the entire territory, reveals, however, important disparities between large metropolises and more affordable cities. While some areas are experiencing prices, others are more accessible. What are the factors behind this rental inflation and what cities are the most affected?
Ever -marked rent differences between cities
The national average rent reaches 17.03 euros per square meter, but this average hides deep disparities between cities. Paris largely dominates the classification, with a price per square meter which amounts to 38.7 euros, a level much higher than other large metropolises. With a monthly budget of 723 euros, a Parisian tenant must be satisfied with a 15 m² studio, while it could have 25 m² in Bordeaux and 54 m² in Rouen. Similarly, in contrast to the spectrum, Saint-Etienne displays the lowest prices, with an average cost of 10 euros/m², which makes it one of the most affordable cities for tenants, in a context where Rental real estate in France is close to collapse.
Some cities record a spectacular lighting of rents. Rennes and Orleans are among the most affected, with respective increases of 7.25 % and 6.24 % in one year. In addition, this progression reflects increasing real estate pressure in these particularly attractive areas. The demographic boom, the arrival of new businesses and the economic dynamics amplify rental demand, while the supply of housing is struggling to follow. Under these conditions, prices increase quickly, making access to housing increasingly difficult for modest households and young workers.
The reference index of the increased rents, a domino effect on current leases
If the tension between supply and demand largely explains the increase in rents, another element accentuates this dynamic: the revaluation of the rent reference index (IRL). Fixed by INSEE, this index, used as a legal basis for the adjustment of rents, displays an increase of 2.47 % over one year. This increase directly impacts the tenantssince the owners can reassess their rents according to this index. Thus, a lease indexed to the IRL at 500 euros monthly undergoes an increase of around 150 euros per year, which increases the budget of households.
However, these revisions are supervised by law. The legislation of July 6, 1989 prohibits owners from increasing rent beyond the variation of the IRL and imposes a period of one year to notify the tenant. Despite these safeguards, the effects of this revaluation remain heavy, especially in the tense areas where rents are already high. For many households, each adjustment reduces their purchasing power a little more and accentuates the difficulties in lodging in large cities where demand largely exceeds the available supply.
In a rental market under tension, the erosion of household property purchasing power seems inevitable. To curb this spiral, the state could extend the caps of rents, already applied in certain metropolises. However, will these measures be enough to contain prices outbreak in the most attractive cities? If the housing supply remains insufficient, donors could strengthen the selection criteria for tenants and require more strict guarantees. Faced with these constraints, certain households turn to medium -sized cities, where the development of real estate investments opens up new perspectives. This trend could ultimately rebalance the real estate market and redraw the housing card in France.
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