Meublé de tourisme star rating 2026: criteria and benefits

Getting your furnished tourist rental (meublé de tourisme) classified means asking an independent body to check the comfort, equipment and services of your property, and then award a rating from 1 to 5 stars for 5 years. The process is optional and paid, but it changes two important lines in your budget: income tax under the micro-BIC regime and the tourist tax (taxe de séjour) paid by your guests.

Since the reform of the taxation of furnished tourist rentals, the gap between a classified and a non-classified property has widened considerably. This guide explains the official grid, how points are calculated, the inspection steps and one often-overlooked point: several criteria relate directly to the information given to guests, starting with the welcome book, which is mandatory and bilingual from 3 stars upwards.

Official sources last checked: October 4, 2026. This article is for information only and does not constitute personalised tax or legal advice.

What is the classification of a furnished tourist rental?

The classification is a proof of quality that shows guests the level of comfort and equipment of a property, using stars from 1 to 5. According to service-public.fr (page checked on May 21, 2026), the process is optional and paid, and the classification decision is valid for 5 years.

A furnished tourist rental is a house or apartment let for short periods (by the day, week or month), for the guest's exclusive use, and which the same guest cannot occupy for more than 90 consecutive days. Classification is therefore open to most properties listed on Airbnb, Booking or for direct booking, whether a second home or a gîte.

Once classified, you must display the classification decision visibly in the property. You may also display the plaque showing the number of stars and use the corresponding logo in your marketing materials.

How many furnished tourist rentals are classified in France?

As of December 31, 2025, 231,700 classified furnished tourist rentals were registered in France, with a total of 1,130,300 beds, according to the 2026 key figures from ADN Tourisme (published in May 2026, document relayed by the Vienne tourism agency). This is the highest level recorded since 2015, up 11% year on year. In 2025 alone, 47,500 properties went through a classification procedure.

Source: Meublés de tourisme 2026 / ADN Tourisme.

The stock is concentrated: Savoie (19,090 classified rentals), Haute-Savoie (13,220) and Var (11,610) lead the way, and 15 departments account for half of the supply. The average capacity of a classified rental is 4.9 people.

Cross-referencing these figures with the official grid gives a useful order of magnitude: 122,140 rentals classified 3, 4 or 5 stars, around 53% of the classified stock, are required to provide a bilingual welcome book (see below). Majordia calculation based on the ADN Tourisme 2026 key figures and the classification framework published by Atout France.

On the inspection side, ADN Tourisme counts 317 authorised bodies in May 2026: 303 approved bodies and 14 bodies accredited by Cofrac (the French accreditation committee). Among approved bodies, 45% are tourist offices and 27% are departmental or national branches of quality labels such as Gîtes de France, Clévacances or Accueil Paysan.

Photo: Jebulon, Wikimedia Commons, public domain (CC0 1.0).

What tax benefits does classification bring in 2026?

Classification acts on three tax levers, subject to conditions. The most important concerns the income tax of hosts under the micro-BIC regime.

Micro-BIC: 50% allowance instead of 30%

According to the « Revenus d'une location meublée » page on service-public.fr (checked on April 15, 2026), the rules for revenue received in 2025 are as follows:

Two practical consequences:

• For the same revenue, the taxable base falls. For €14,000 of revenue, a non-classified rental is taxed on €9,800 (70%) and a classified rental on €7,000 (50%), i.e. €2,800 less taxable income. Majordia calculation based on the rules published by service-public.fr.
• Above €15,000 of revenue, a non-classified rental switches to the actual-expenses regime (régime réel), whereas a classified rental can stay under micro-BIC up to €77,700. Service-public.fr specifies that if the ceiling is exceeded for the first or second year, micro-BIC may apply for one more year.

The actual-expenses regime, which allows you to deduct expenses and depreciation, is often still worthwhile: the right choice depends on your costs, your works and your situation. Our guide to short-term rental taxation covers these trade-offs. Check against your own situation, ideally with a chartered accountant.

Tourist tax: a fixed rate rather than a percentage

For classified accommodation, the municipality applies a fixed rate per person per night, chosen within a national range. For accommodation without a classification or awaiting classification, it applies a rate of 1% to 5% of the cost of the night per person, capped at the highest rate adopted by the local authority. Here is the 2026 scale published by Entreprendre.service-public.fr (page checked on January 1, 2026):

Additional taxes may apply: in Île-de-France, an additional tax of 200% is added to the tourist tax rate. The exact amount therefore depends on your municipality. For collection and payment rules, read our article on the tourist tax in short-term rentals.

Property tax and housing tax in rural areas

If your classified rental is located in an eligible rural revitalisation zone (zone France revitalisation rurale, ZFRR or ZFRR+), an exemption from property tax and housing tax is possible, according to service-public.fr. It is requested from the public finance centre using Cerfa forms no. 15532 (property tax) and no. 13567 (housing tax). Check with your town hall which exemptions have actually been introduced.

How does the 133-criteria grid work?

The official grid is set out in the order of August 2, 2010 laying down the standards and procedure for classifying furnished tourist rentals, as amended by the order of November 24, 2021. It applies to inspections carried out since February 1, 2022. The framework published by Atout France contains 133 criteria divided into three chapters:

1. Equipment and fittings: floor areas, electrics, bedding, bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor areas, condition and cleanliness.
2. Guest services: guest information and services offered.
3. Accessibility and sustainable development: accessibility information, adapted equipment, energy and water saving measures, waste sorting.

Each criterion carries a number of points and a status: mandatory for the target category, à la carte (optional), not applicable in certain cases, or mandatory and non-compensable. There is also a prerequisite: a one-room unit for one or two people must measure at least 9 m² if the kitchen is separate, or 12 m² with a kitchenette.

How points are calculated

The Atout France inspection guide, used by inspectors, sets three cumulative conditions to obtain a category:

• meet the floor-area prerequisite;
• score the 25 points of the 5 mandatory non-compensable criteria, all related to condition and cleanliness: bathrooms, floors, walls and ceilings, furniture, bedding, kitchen and equipment;
• reach 100% of the mandatory points, with a 5% margin: each mandatory point lost must then be offset by three times as many à la carte points, on top of a minimum percentage of à la carte points.

Source: classification framework for furnished tourist rentals (order of November 24, 2021) and inspection guide, Atout France. Some criteria become not applicable in specific cases, for example Wi-Fi in a justified dead zone or air conditioning in high mountain areas.

Photo: Gzen92, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Welcome book, brochures, web page: the guest information criteria

The « Guest services » and « Accessibility and sustainable development » chapters contain several criteria you can prepare without any building work. They are often neglected, even though they count towards the total of mandatory points.

On the format of the welcome book, the Atout France inspection guide is explicit (our translation):

"The welcome book may be provided in paper or digital format (QR code, tablet, download link, website, etc.). The welcome book must be bilingual from 3 stars upwards."

— Atout France, Guide de contrôle du tableau de classement des meublés de tourisme (updated January 19, 2022)

A digital welcome book can therefore meet the criterion, provided it contains the required minimum and is shown to the inspector on the day of the visit, for example via a QR code displayed in the entrance. With the Majordia digital welcome book, each property has its own welcome book accessible by QR code or short link, with no app to install, and sections dedicated to Wi-Fi, the door code, contacts and emergency numbers.

The bilingual requirement is often the sticking point for hosts who wrote their welcome book in French. Majordia automatically translates the welcome book content and displays it in the guest's language among six languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch. Proofreading the translation is still recommended for sensitive instructions (access, safety).

Customisable sections also let you group local recommendations and eco-friendly tips (public transport, waste sorting, saving water). The inspection guide accepts the welcome guide as an awareness-raising medium; for brochures, it requires a minimum number of documents, which the inspector will assess on site. To go further on these two topics, see our guides to accessibility in tourist accommodation and eco-friendly accommodation.

How does the classification process work, step by step?

The classification procedure for furnished tourist rentals does not go through Atout France: you deal directly with the body of your choice. Here are the steps described by the inspection guide and by service-public.fr:

1. Carry out a self-assessment using the 133-criteria framework, to aim for a realistic category.
2. Choose a body from the lists of approved and accredited bodies published on the Atout France « Meublé de tourisme » page. The list of approved bodies is updated every month. The inspection fee is set by the body.
3. Submit the classification request to that body, then agree on an inspection date.
4. Welcome the inspector on site. The inspection must take place in the property: webcams, drones or video calls are excluded. If you are having several properties classified, each one is inspected separately.
5. Add information if needed. Factual evidence (invoice for a small item of equipment, internal document such as a welcome guide) can be sent within 15 working days of the visit. This tolerance does not apply to cleanliness, repairs or structural work.
6. Receive the inspection certificate within the following month: inspection report, completed grid and proposed classification decision.
7. Accept or refuse. You have 15 days from receipt of the certificate to refuse the proposal. Without refusal, the classification is granted for 5 years.

After the decision, display it in the property and update your formalities. Service-public.fr points out that a new declaration to the town hall is required as soon as any declared information is no longer valid, and the classification level is one of those items. Also remember to update the accommodation category on your platforms, so that the tourist tax collected matches the correct rate.

Photo: Gzen92, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Which mistakes cost you stars?

The grid is public, but some criteria take hosts by surprise on inspection day. The most common points to check:

• Cleanliness and condition. The five non-compensable criteria cover the cleanliness of bathrooms, floors, walls and ceilings, furniture, bedding and kitchen. A defect on any one of them prevents classification, whatever the level of equipment.
• Incorrectly measured floor areas. Only areas with a ceiling height of at least 1.80 m are counted. In a room with sloping ceilings, the area taken into account may therefore be smaller than the one in your listing.
• Welcoming guests in person. This is mandatory from 2 stars. A key box or smart lock is only an à la carte criterion: with 100% self check-in, the mandatory points lost must be offset by three times as many à la carte points, within the limit of 5% of total mandatory points.
• Linen and cleaning. Bed linen and towels must be systematically offered in all categories, and a systematically offered cleaning service is mandatory from 2 stars.
• A single-language welcome book. From 3 stars, a welcome book only in French does not meet the criterion.
• Missing accessibility information. Even if your property is not adapted, you must state this clearly in your information materials.

Key takeaways

FAQ

Is classifying a furnished tourist rental mandatory?

No. Classification is an optional and paid process. However, declaring or registering the property with the town hall remains mandatory under your municipality's rules, whether or not the property is classified.

How long does a star rating last?

The classification decision is valid for 5 years. At the end of this period, a new classification inspection by an approved or accredited body is required to keep a star rating.

Can you refuse the number of stars proposed by the body?

Yes. You have 15 days from receipt of the inspection certificate to refuse the proposed classification. After this period, and without refusal on your part, the classification is granted.

Is a digital welcome book accepted during the inspection?

Yes. The Atout France inspection guide states that the welcome book can be provided on paper or in digital form (QR code, tablet, download link, website). It must contain at least the manager's contact details, emergency numbers and how the property works, and be bilingual from 3 stars.

Does classification lower the tourist tax paid by my guests?

Often, but not always. A classified rental pays a fixed rate voted by the municipality (between €0.20 and €3.60 per person per night in 2026 depending on the category). A non-classified rental pays a percentage of the nightly price, capped at the municipality's highest rate. The difference therefore depends on your price and local rates.

Does each property have to be classified separately?

Yes. The inspection guide provides that each property is inspected separately, against all the criteria, even if several rentals belong to the same owner and are entrusted to the same body.

Prepare your classification with an inspection-ready welcome book

A star rating mainly takes method: an honest self-assessment against the grid, a spotless property on inspection day and complete information materials. That last point is the easiest to sort out in advance. An up-to-date digital welcome book, translated and accessible by QR code, covers part of the guest information criteria, while reducing repetitive questions during the stay.

To set up a welcome book for each property, compare the plans on the Majordia pricing page or discover the digital welcome book.

Image credits. Cover: stone house in Cherrueix (Ille-et-Vilaine), photo by Eugenia Pan'kiv, Unsplash, Unsplash licence. Illustrations: Jebulon (CC0 1.0) and Gzen92 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; images converted to WebP and resized.