French Rental & Property Management

Rental income in the French Alps can vary significantly based on the resort, property type, and season.

In top destinations like Val d’Isère or Meribel, the best luxury chalets can easily achieve rental income of €50,000 to €100,000 a week.

A standard 2-3 bedroom apartment in a popular dual-season resort may expect to achieve net returns of 3-3.5% once you have taken account of management charges, cleaning etc.

If you are looking to maximise rental revenue, the key is to make your property stand out with unique design or excellent wellness facilities (hot tub, sauna etc).

Most holiday makers will not want to drive to the ski slopes so make sure you are within a 10 minute walk or close to a ski bus stop.

If you buy a leaseback property, you will have a rental obligation attached to your property and will be limited in the amount of time you can spend in your apartment each year.

However, Alpine Property Finders tend to focus on pure ‘freehold’ apartments and chalets that have no rental obligations attached to them so your own use is a lot more flexible. You are, however, welcome to rent out should you wish too. If you do wish to rent out your new alpine home then you are often able to reclaim the 20% VAT that is levied on the purchase price.

Most of the property that we offer for sale in the French Alps does not have a rental obligation. You are however able to rent out should you wish too.

That said, certain resorts are now imposing rental obligations on some new-build residences. For example, Alpe d’Huez and Courchevel have both now implemented rental obligations on certain new residences.

These rules are changing rapidly across the Alps so it’s best to discuss with your estate agent what the latest rules and regulations are for any property that you might be interested in.

To maximise rental income from a French ski property, focus on: location, unique features, interior design, and professional management.

Location

Most guests won’t want to drive to the ski slopes each day. Ensure your property is situated as close as possible to the ski lifts or a regular ski bus stop.

Similarly, guests will want to be able to find a bar and restaurant within walking distance.

Unique Features

What will make your property stand out online? Think about adding a Hot Tub or Sauna. Everyone can rent out their ski property for New Year. The secret in maximising rental income is to ensure off-peak bookings. Wellness features such as these will make your property stand out from the competition and increase your bookings outside the high season.

Interior Design

When furnishing your new ski property try to give some consideration to a few unique features which will help it stand out online. If your apartment is in a big building with many similar apartments then this is particularly true.

Old-wood panelling, unique light fittings, splashes of colour can all help elevate your apartment. Guests will appreciate a games cupboard with a good selection of board and card games.

A clean modern kitchen, comfortable beds and fast wi-fi are non-negotiable!

Professional Management

Renting out a property yourself is possible but it is time consuming and easy to get wrong. Most resorts will have one or two good professional rental management companies who are based there. Expect to pay between 20-25% of the rent for a fully managed service.

A good management company will more than pay for themselves by ensuring that occupancy and pricing are maximised.

Professional photography, dynamic pricing, seamless check-in and cleaning services are all areas where your management company can add value. With a well run operation, you can start to build good reviews for your property and this will lead to increased booking and revenue.