Tenant remedies for housing discrimination in France
If you are a tenant in France and believe you have been a victim of housing access discrimination, there are steps to challenge the decision and protect your rights. This guide explains, in accessible language, the evidence to gather, possible administrative and judicial steps, the deadlines to respect and the organizations that can help you. You will also find practical advice on documenting refusals, contacting the departmental conciliation commission, and preparing a file for the Tribunal judiciaire if necessary. The aim is to give you a clear roadmap to act quickly and in a structured way when facing housing-related discrimination.
Your rights and the law
Residential leases in France are governed by law n°89-462 and the Civil Code: discriminatory practices in access to housing are prohibited and can be sanctioned.[1]
What to do if you are denied access?
If a landlord or agency refuses access without an objective reason, here are the recommended steps:
- Gather all elements (ads, written exchanges, messages, photos).
- Request a written explanation from the landlord or agency and keep the response.
- Check your lease or model contract to identify any relevant clauses.[2]
- Contact the departmental conciliation commission for mediation before any judicial referral.
FAQ
- What counts as discrimination in access to housing?
- Refusal based on origin, sex, family situation, health status, nationality or other criteria protected by law.
- What are the deadlines to act?
- Act quickly: conciliation is recommended first, then referral to the Tribunal judiciaire if necessary.
- Which organizations can help me?
- Service-public, the departmental conciliation commission and judicial services can advise and assist.
How to
- Collect evidence: ads, copies of messages, photos and witness statements.
- Contact the landlord in writing and keep records of exchanges.
- Submit the case to the departmental conciliation commission for an amicable settlement attempt.
- If conciliation fails, prepare a file for the Tribunal judiciaire with your evidence.
