Many tenants are unaware that there is a legal way to pay less for their accommodation. It is neither social assistance nor an improvised negotiation, but a right provided for by the texts.
Each month, the rent falls, without the question of the amount being put back on the table. However, the price paid is supposed to correspond to normal use of the accommodation, with all basic functions accessible and a living environment consistent with what is provided for in the lease. When this is no longer really the case, logic dictates that the bill should follow reality.
Indeed, there is a simple principle: the rent corresponds to the enjoyment of a property, and if this enjoyment is reduced in a clear and lasting manner, the amount can be adjusted. This does not concern a temporary inconvenience or a small inconvenience of daily life, but situations where certain rooms become unusable, where essential equipment no longer functions correctly or when the accommodation temporarily loses a significant part of its use.
For the request to stand, it must be possible to show that the loss of use is real, that it lasts over time and that it is not a simple subjective discomfort. Evidence counts, whether it is photos, messages exchanged with the owner or agency, or any document that establishes the nature and duration of the problem. The objective is not to create a standoff, but to reestablish a balance between the service provided – fully usable housing – and the price paid each month.
The most typical case concerns heavy work which renders certain rooms unusable, causes long water or electricity outages or causes major nuisance, and which lasts more than 21 days. In this specific situation, the Civil Code authorizes the tenant to request a rent reduction proportional to the duration and extent of the inconvenience, without having to leave their apartment. This framework is not exceptional, it is provided by law to protect tenants when their accommodation is significantly affected for a prolonged period.
The process begins with a clear writing addressed to the owner or manager of the property, in which the tenant explains the situation and requests a review of the rent in relation to the loss of use observed, attaching the elements which support his request. If no agreement is reached, it is possible to contact the departmental conciliation commission to try to resolve the dispute amicably, before going further if necessary. If the situation ever arises at your home, think about it.
