Nice matches Paris for highest rental market tension in France

According to the Manda rental tension barometer for the first half of 2026, the French rental market is experiencing significant geographic shifts. While the national average has stabilized at approximately 13 candidates per listing, regional disparities are widening.

Nice has emerged as a primary driver of rental demand, matching Paris with a tension score of 8/10. Nice reports 43 candidates per listing, a 10% increase over the previous year, with properties typically finding tenants within a median of 17 days. Paris follows closely with 41 candidates per listing.

In the South of France, Marseille remains a major hub with 18 candidates per listing, despite a 13% decrease in demand compared to 2025. Other cities including Lyon, Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Toulouse all recorded tension scores of 6/10. Notably, Bordeaux saw a 45% drop in demand, while Toulouse experienced a 33% decline. In the Île-de-France region, renters are increasingly looking toward the inner suburbs to balance budget and living standards.