Hiring the services of a real estate agency to find your apartment or house will help you cost more in 2026. From next January 1, in fact, the ceiling of fees invoiced by these intermediaries will increase by 0.87%, specifies a decree published in the Official Journal this Thursday, November 20. As a reminder, these “agency fees” correspond to the price of services corresponding to the organization of visits, the creation of the file or even the drafting the lease. They are limited to a certain amount per habitable square meter.
Established by the Alur law of 2014 and in force since September 15 of that same year, these fee ceilings have not changed since then and are set at 12 euros per square meter in very tight areas, that is to say where the supply of housing is much lower than demand, for example in Paris and the inner suburbs as well as in most of the very large cities in France. In tense areas, the limit is currently 10 euros, and finally 8 euros outside these areas – in relaxed areas, where the housing supply is considered sufficient.
A new ceiling of 15.13 euros per square meter in very tense areas
With the increase of 0.87%, corresponding to the rent reference index (IRL) of the third quarter of 2025, the new ceilings in force on January 1 will respectively reach 12.10 euros per square meter in very tense zones, 10.09 euros in tense zones and 8.07 euros in relaxed zones. Concretely, in Paris, thereal estate agency will be able to charge up to 484 euros (40 x 12.10) for the rental of an apartment of 40 square meters. And this, without counting the 3 euros per square meter that the tenant must also pay for carrying out the inventory, an amount also increased by 0.87% to 3.03 euros. Using our example of an apartment of 40 square meters, the lessee will therefore have to pay a total of 605.2 euros, including 121.2 euros (40 x 3.03) for carrying out the inventory.
From January 1, 2026, a real estate agency will be able to charge a total of 15.13 euros per square meter of agency fees in very tense areas, 13.12 euros in tense areas and finally 11.10 euros in any other municipality.
>> Our service – Save money by testing our home insurance comparator
