What a French rent increase letter must contain
French law sets no template, but the tenant must be able to check the calculation. The letter you download therefore includes:
- a reference to the lease's rent review clause and to article 17-1 of the law of 6 July 1989;
- the current rent excluding charges;
- the two indices used, with their quarter and value;
- the calculation and the new rent, excluding and including charges;
- the date from which the new rent applies.
Sample letter (lettre de révision du loyer)
This is the French text of the letter, for a €650 rent with Q2 as the reference quarter:
Objet : révision annuelle du loyer
Madame, Monsieur,
Conformément à la clause de révision prévue par votre bail du 1er octobre 2024 pour le logement situé 3 avenue Victor Hugo, 69003 Lyon, et à l'article 17-1 de la loi n° 89-462 du 6 juillet 1989, je vous informe de la révision annuelle de votre loyer, calculée selon l'indice de référence des loyers (IRL) publié par l'INSEE.
Loyer actuel hors charges : 650,00 €
IRL de référence (T2 2025) : 146,68
Nouvel IRL (T2 2026) : 148,37
Calcul : 650,00 € × 148,37 / 146,68 = 657,49 €
À compter du 1er octobre 2026, votre loyer s'élèvera donc à 657,49 € hors charges. Je vous remercie d'en tenir compte pour vos prochains règlements et, si vous payez par virement permanent, d'en modifier le montant.
Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.
In short: under the lease's review clause and article 17-1, the rent goes from €650.00 to €657.49 excluding charges from 1 October 2026, and the tenant is asked to update any standing order.
When to send it: the date changes the outcome
| You send the letter… | The new rent applies… |
|---|---|
| before the review date, or on the day | from the review date stated in the lease |
| within the year after the review date | from the date of your request, with nothing owed for past months |
| more than a year after the review date | never: that year's increase is lost |
The generator applies this rule: if the review date has already passed, the letter gives today's date as the effective date. So send it straight away, in a way that proves the date (registered post, handed over against a signature, or an email the tenant replies to).
Which index does the letter use?
The latest IRL published, on the review date, for the quarter written in your lease, compared with the same quarter one year earlier. Latest index published: Q2 2026 = 148.37 (+1.15% over one year). If the index you need isn't out yet, the generator tells you instead of using an old value.
Every value is in the IRL table, and the rent increase calculator gives the new rent without creating a letter.
When not to send a letter
- The lease has no rent review clause: the rent stays the same until the lease is renewed.
- The home is rated F or G on the DPE: its rent can no longer be increased, including by the yearly review (since 24 August 2022 in mainland France, 1 July 2024 overseas).
- The review date is more than a year ago: wait for the next one.
The whole process is in our guide to rent increases in France.
Sources
- French law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989, article 17-1 (Légifrance)
- Service-public.fr: rent increases during the lease
- Service-public.fr: rent reference index (IRL)
- INSEE: official IRL series
Frequently asked questions
Does a French rent increase letter have to be sent by registered post?
No, the law requires no particular form: an ordinary letter or an email is enough. Registered post with acknowledgement of receipt (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception), or handing it over against a signature, proves the date of the request. That date matters, because a late request only takes effect from then.
Does the tenant have to agree?
No. If the lease contains a rent review clause, the new rent applies once the landlord asks for it, with no amendment and no signature from the tenant. Without a review clause in the lease, the rent can't be reviewed.
Can I send the letter before the review date?
Yes, as soon as the index that applies has been published. The new rent then takes effect on the review date stated in the lease, not before.
I forgot to increase the rent last year: can I catch up?
No. One year after the review date, the landlord is deemed to have waived that year's increase. The letter can only cover the current year's review, based on the change in the IRL over one year.
Why is the letter in French?
It is addressed to your tenant under a French lease, so it uses the wording a French tenant, the CAF or a court expects. This page explains each part in English.
Updated 11 October 2026. This tool gives general information about French tenancy law and doesn't replace personal legal advice.