2025-2026: The golden age of rental management?

A regulatory framework that is becoming more refined and stable

The year 2025 will go down in history as the year of regulatory consolidation. The definitive ban on the rental of thermal strainers classified as G in the DPE since January 1st marks a crucial step[1]. With 1,3 million private rental properties still classified as F or G in France, this measure has a significant impact on the market[2].

The mandatory collective energy performance certificate (DPE) for co-ownerships of 50 to 200 units is also transforming the situation. This diagnosis, initially perceived as an administrative constraint, is becoming a real asset optimization tool. Savvy managers are now using it as a lever for enhancing value and anticipating necessary work.

The tightened regulation of tourist rentals, with local authorities being able to reduce the maximum rental period from 120 to 90 days per year, is also giving new life to the traditional rental market. This rebalancing directly benefits managers specializing in long-term residential properties.

2026: a historic revaluation that redefines the profession

But it is the announcement of the revaluation of rental fees from January 1, 2026 that constitutes the real game changer. After eleven years of freezing, this increase of nearly 13% - indexed to the evolution of the IRL - marks the official recognition of the value created by rental management professionals[3].

This revaluation is not just an inflationary correction. It reflects a collective awareness: in an increasingly complex regulatory environment, the use of professional managers is becoming an imperative for legal security and optimal profitability.

We are thus witnessing the emergence of a new paradigm: rental management is no longer simply about collecting rents and managing claims. It is becoming a true asset management consultancy, anticipating regulatory changes, optimizing energy and tax performance, and maximizing the value of real estate assets.

This transformation is based on three fundamental pillars: mastery of new regulations for legal security, technical expertise for operational efficiency, and strategic vision for asset optimization.

A tight rental market: the opportunity of a generation

The French rental market has never been so buoyant... nor so complex. With 25% of French households living in private rental housing[4], demand remains structurally strong. Facing them, nearly 10 million landlords[1] manage an increasingly technical and regulated portfolio.

The 2025 figures reveal record rental pressure: the supply of rental housing has fallen by 6% compared to 20242, mainly due to new regulatory constraints. The ban on renting F and G thermal sieves is removing around 600.000 properties from the market5, creating unprecedented pressure on available supply. This scarcity is automatically reflected in a 3,3% increase in rents, bringing the average French rent to €723/month[6].

Paradoxically, this tension directly benefits owners who keep their properties on the market: rental profitability has never been so attractive for those who master the new rules of the game. But this performance now requires expertise that only 30% of landlords over 65[1] naturally possess.

A market undergoing structural change

This dynamic is accompanied by a massive digitalization of the sector. 78% of landlords now use digital platforms (compared to 65% in 2023), and 62% of tenants prefer online payments[7]. Electronic lease signatures have jumped by 45% in three years[7], demonstrating an accelerated modernization of practices.

At the same time, behaviors are changing: furnished accommodation will now represent 59% of rentals in 2025 (compared to 38% in 2019)[8], responding to a growing demand for flexibility. This evolution requires more sophisticated management, from furnishing to regular maintenance.

Faced with this increasing complexity, the use of professional managers is no longer a luxury, but an economic necessity to optimize the profitability of real estate assets.

Tomorrow's challenges are today's opportunities

The correction of the DPE planned for 2026, which will allow 850.000 homes classified F or G to move up in the energy classification without work[9], perfectly illustrates this dynamic.

Continuous optimization is becoming the watchword: energy optimization to anticipate future requirements, fiscal optimization to maximize net profitability, and regulatory optimization to secure investments. This comprehensive approach requires expertise that only seasoned professionals can provide.

The Golden Age: An Opportunity to Seize Now

So, will 2025-2026 mark the dawn of the golden age of property management? All indicators point in this direction. The stabilization of the regulatory framework, coupled with the revaluation of fees and the growing sophistication of landlord expectations, is creating an environment where professional expertise is becoming essential.

This profound market shift is creating new growth prospects for the entire ecosystem. Managers who combine regulatory expertise, technological innovation, and a consultancy approach will take a decisive lead. For landlords, choosing the right management partner is becoming strategic: it now determines the long-term performance of their real estate assets.

The golden age of property management will not be one of ease, but one of professional excellence finally recognized and valued. This evolution will definitively transform a sector long considered a commodity into a true high-value-added service industry. This perspective motivates us every day to rethink the sector's standards and to support all stakeholders towards this new era of performance and professionalization.

Tribune by Charles-Antoine Périchon, ADB Market Director at Orisha Real Estate (LinkedIn).