Quarterly IRL Calculation for Tenants in France
What is the IRL?
The IRL is an index published periodically that serves as the legal basis for revising rent when a revision clause is provided in the lease. It reflects changes in consumer prices and must be applied according to the legal formula stated in the rental contract.[1]
How the quarterly IRL is calculated
The general method is to take the index published for the reference quarter and compare it to the index of the contract's base period, then apply the revision formula. Always check the revision clause in your lease to know the reference period used by your landlord.
- Identify the reference index published for the reference quarter (rent).
- Find the index corresponding to the base period indicated in the lease (rent).
- Apply the formula: new rent = reference rent × (new index / base index).
What this means for your rent
A revision based on the IRL can increase the rent amount if the index has risen; it does not create a new rent beyond this calculation. The landlord must respect the contractual clause and the specified periodicity. If in doubt about the calculation or application, you can request supporting documents and, if necessary, contact the Departmental Conciliation Commission or the competent court.[2]
- Check the revision clause in your contract (notice).
- Ask the landlord for indices and detailed calculation evidence (document).
- If the calculation seems incorrect, consider conciliation or legal action before the judicial court (court).
FAQ
- Can I challenge an increase based on the IRL?
- Yes. If the calculation or application of the clause is incorrect, you can ask the landlord for explanations, bring the matter to the Departmental Conciliation Commission or, ultimately, to the judicial court.[2]
- When does the IRL apply?
- The IRL applies only if a revision clause is provided in the lease and according to the periodicity indicated (often annual, using the published quarterly index).
- Can the IRL reduce my rent?
- Theoretically yes if the index decreases, but in practice it usually results in stabilization or a modest increase according to the index.
How to
- Gather the lease, correspondence and payment receipts to establish the reference rent (document).
- Note the index published for the reference quarter and the index of the base period (rent).
- Apply the official formula to calculate the new rent (form).
- Contact the landlord to request the calculation details and propose conciliation if needed (contact).
- If unresolved, refer the case to the Departmental Conciliation Commission or the judicial court (court).
Key takeaways
- The IRL is used only to revise rent when the lease contains a revision clause.
- Keep all documents: lease, receipts and published indices.
- If a dispute arises, conciliation or the judicial court are the available routes.
