Paris Housing Levy Referendum: Projected Effects on Resident Property Taxes and Rental Costs

The Paris City Council placed a local referendum on the November 2026 ballot that would impose an additional levy on higher-value residential properties to finance construction of social housing units. The measure directly affects owners and tenants in every arrondissement through changes to annual property tax bills and future rental supply.

Local housing pressures have intensified since the 2024 municipal budget review, when the city recorded a shortfall of 12,000 affordable units against demand estimates from the Ile-de-France regional housing authority. The referendum responds to that gap by creating a dedicated revenue stream outside the standard municipal budget process.

Changes to resident costs and services

Property owners in the 7th, 8th and 16th arrondissements would see the largest immediate increases, with the levy adding roughly 4,000 euros per year on a 1.2 million euro apartment according to city tax office projections. Renters in those same districts could face pass-through adjustments in lease renewals, while new social housing blocks are slated for the 18th, 19th and 20th arrondissements under the five-year construction timetable outlined in the referendum text.

City budget documents from March 2026 list the levy as expected to raise 142 million euros annually once fully implemented. That figure would support 4,800 new units by 2031, a target drawn from the same planning documents that currently guide allocations from the national housing solidarity fund.

Timeline and voting details

Ballots will be mailed to registered residents starting 15 October, with polling stations open on 8 November. If approved, the levy takes effect on 1 January 2027 tax statements, and the first construction contracts are scheduled for award in the second quarter of that year.