Paris is moving forward with a strict measure to address the shortage of available housing, approving the doubling of the tax on properties that remain vacant for a long period.

The City Council of the French capital approved the tax increase, which will take effect on January 1, 2027, utilizing the option provided to municipalities by French legislation.

Currently, it is estimated that there are approximately 150,000 vacant homes in Paris, a number corresponding to nearly 9% of the city's total housing stock. Out of these, around 80,000 remain uninhabited for a long period and are already subject to the relevant tax.

Under the new framework, the tax on vacant homes increases from 17% to 30% of the estimated annual rent during the first year the property remains vacant, while from the second year onward, it increases from 34% to 60%.

The municipal authority estimates that the measure could lead approximately 20,000 homes back to the market, either through renting or selling, contributing to easing the housing pressure faced by the city.

Concurrently, authorities believe that the tax increase will also reduce instances of owners declaring their secondary residences as vacant in order to benefit from lower taxation.

However, the decision has sparked reactions from the opposition, which argues that the increase will not solve the housing problem and speaks of an excessive tax burden on owners.

Paris is one of several European cities testing more dynamic policies against vacant properties, at a time when the housing crisis and rising rents are at the center of public debate in many European countries.