France adopts new lease contract rules and Olympic‑style housing acceleration plan

A decree issued on 6 July 2026 (n° 2026‑596) will overhaul residential lease contracts in France. From 1 October 2026, all new or renewed leases must use a redesigned model that expands the resolutory clause to cover non‑payment of the security deposit and shortens the regularisation period after an unpaid order from two months to six weeks. The decree also keeps the 10 % monthly penalty for delayed return of the deposit, a frequent source of landlord‑tenant disputes. The changes are highlighted for landlords and tenants in Grand Troyes, where the rental market has been tightening.

Separately, the French government plans to speed up new‑home construction by copying the fast‑track procedures used for the Paris 2024 Olympic athletes’ village in Dugny. The “Olympic‑site” model allowed thousands of units to be built in three years instead of the usual ten. The proposed law would create “Urgence Relance Logement” operations, letting mayors submit projects approved by prefects for accelerated processing, limiting abusive legal challenges and aiming to build in two years what now takes six. The target is 400 000 additional homes each year to reach two million new dwellings by 2030.