Back-to-school season has arrived, and every year, it's the same old story: the rental market is more tense than ever. And 2026 is particularly striking since on average, an apartment is contested by between 2.7 candidates, compared to 2.2 last year. The problem? The price, of course, but also and especially the supply, far too weak compared to ever-growing demand.
Imbalances at every level
Applications sent by the dozens every hour, for apartments sometimes on the edge of being uninhabitable… But never mind: back-to-school is here, it
there's no other option—you absolutely must find housing. Yes, but here's the thing: landlords favor short-term tourist rentals over long-term leases; the ban on renting apartments that don't meet proper energy performance standards (EPS) limits the number of available apartments on the market, and investors are increasingly reluctant to invest in areas where rent controls apply.To make matters worse, there are particularly strict selection criteria, like having a permanent contract being a major advantage, the requirement to earn 3 to 4 times the rental amount or having a guarantor.
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Over 1,500 applications for a single studio
Yet the numbers spoke for themselves and suggested a slightly better balance. 17% more properties were available on the market, compared to demand that had declined by 16% nationally. In Paris, demand fell by 15%, though it remains particularly high (+ 13% compared to 2021).
Nevertheless, we're seeing a 67% drop in rental properties since 2021, with rent increases averaging 2.5% as of April 1st, 2026. Expect to pay €1,662 in rent for a 2-bedroom, 50 m² apartment in Paris. When asked by f="https://www.leparisien.fr/immobilier/1-638-demandes-de-contacts-en-moins-dune-semaine-pour-un-studio-de-18-m2-les-chiffres-fous-de-la-tension-locative-31-08-2026-MBSC5GBQIZE57IYREZS5R6RRNU.php" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Le Parisien, Laëtitia Caron, general manager of PAP, states that "an 18 m2 studio in Paris's 20th arrondissement [...] received 1,638 contact requests in less than a week ".
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