Each year the housing rental observatory ‘Clameur’ (Connaître les Loyers et Analyser les Marchés sur les Espaces Urbains et Ruraux), based at the University of Paris, reviews the French housing rental market.

The review covers over 90% of the private annual lettings for unfurnished properties, a market of nearly 6 million properties, accounting for around 20% of the housing stock. Holiday and furnished lettings are not part of the survey.

In their most recent review Clameur report that, nationally, apartment rents increased in the year to Q2/23 by an average of 3.10% to reach €14.31/m², whilst those for houses increased by 2.02% to an average of €11.94/m².

The rents of 1-roomed properties rose the most - by 5.38% to €18.60/m². Two-roomed properties rose 1.45% to €13.04/m², whilst 3+ roomed properties rose 1.39% to reach €11.28/m². The definition of a 'room' excludes both the bathroom and kitchen.

The graphic below shows average rents in each department, as well as minimum and maximum rents. Highest average rents are not surprisingly in Paris (€27.69/m²), whilst lowest rents are in Haut-Loire (€7.24/m²).

The tables below show average rents for different sized properties in a cross-section of towns and cities, and the evolution in a year.

As might be expected, rent levels within each town vary by geographic area, so the information should only be used as a general guide.