Seasonal Lease in Megève: An Owner’s Guide

8 min read

Renting out your chalet or apartment for the winter in Megève means signing a seasonal lease (in French, a bail saisonnier or contrat de location saisonnière). It follows different rules from a standard year-round tenancy: a limited term, a furnished home, registration with the town hall and the local tourist tax. This guide covers what owners need to know before letting, and how Ascent Megève organises the season with its owners.

What is a seasonal lease?

France’s Tourism Code defines a furnished tourist rental (meublé de tourisme) as a furnished home let to short-stay guests who do not make it their home, by the day, week or month. The seasonal lease is the contract that governs this kind of let.

For an owner, the difference from a standard furnished tenancy matters:

• the tenant does not live in the property as their main residence;
• the let ends on the agreed date, with no notice to give and no automatic renewal;
• the protective rules of residential tenancies (minimum term, notice periods) do not apply.

In Megève, this is the most common way chalets and apartments are let for the winter or the summer.

Duration: the 90-day rule and the winter season

The Hoguet law, which regulates estate agents in France, defines a seasonal rental as one lasting no more than 90 consecutive days, with no renewal. Beyond that, the let falls outside the seasonal framework and a different type of contract may be required.

This matters in Megève, because a full winter season can come close to that limit:

• full season: from the Monday of the week before Christmas until March;
• short season: from the first Monday after New Year until March;
• summer season: from the last week of June to the first week of September, when the owner wishes.

The exact dates depend on each owner and on their own stays in the property. The length and form of the contract are therefore checked case by case, before signing.

What the contract must include

The Tourism Code requires every seasonal rental offer or contract to be in writing and to state the price and a description of the property. In practice, a good contract also sets out:

1. the identity of the owner (or their agent) and of the tenant;
2. the address, floor area, number of bedrooms and number of guests;
3. arrival and departure dates and times;
4. the total rent, the payment schedule and what is included (utilities, linen, cleaning, heating);
5. the tourist tax, charged on top;
6. the amount of the security deposit and how it is returned;
7. cancellation terms;
8. the furniture inventory and the check-in and check-out condition reports;
9. house rules (pets, number of occupants, no smoking).

The inventory and condition reports protect both sides. They matter all the more for a let of several months in a fully equipped chalet.

Holding deposits, down payments and security deposits

Under French law, money paid at booking has different effects depending on what it is called:

• Arrhes (holding deposit): a tenant who cancels loses it. If the owner cancels, they must in principle repay twice the amount. Unless the contract says otherwise, money paid in advance is treated as arrhes.
• Acompte (down payment): it firmly commits both parties. A tenant who cancels generally still owes the rent.
• Dépôt de garantie (security deposit): it covers any damage or missing items found at check-out. Its amount and return deadline should be written into the contract.

The wording used in the contract therefore has real consequences if a booking is cancelled, so it is worth choosing it deliberately.

Registration and tourist tax in Megève

Letting a furnished tourist rental requires declaring it to the town hall. France’s law of 19 November 2024 (the “Le Meur law”) extends registration of furnished tourist rentals nationwide, with a national registration number. Since 20 May 2026, every listing must display that number and state whether the host is a private individual or a professional. The registration tools are being rolled out gradually, so check the current procedure with the Megève town hall (French-language site) before letting.

Megève charges the tourist tax (taxe de séjour) on actual stays across the whole commune. The tenant pays it on top of the rent, and it is then declared and paid to the town:

• nights are declared on the town’s online platform (in French) before the 15th of each month, for the previous month;
• payment is made twice a year: by 31 May for 1 November to 30 April, and by 30 November for 1 May to 31 October;
• when a booking platform collects the tax, the platform declares and pays it for those stays.

For the tax treatment of the rental income itself, see our article on tax basics for seasonal rental owners in Megève.

How Ascent Megève organises the season

Ascent Megève handles these contracts on behalf of its owners. The way we work follows the resort’s calendar:

1. The season first. We look first for a tenant for the full or short season, on the dates you have approved.
2. Then by the week. If no seasonal tenant has been found by the end of November, the property moves to weekly rentals so it does not sit empty over the winter.
3. An all-inclusive stay. The rent includes the services you would expect from a holiday rental. Only the tourist tax is charged separately. Cleaning dates are arranged with the tenant once the booking is confirmed.
4. Direct contact. There is no instant online booking: tenants and owners deal with the team by email, WhatsApp or phone, with a reply within 24 hours.

Weekly rental is not just a fallback. For some properties it can earn more than a single seasonal contract, because school-holiday weeks often let at higher rates. Our commission is the same either way: 19% of gross income, cleaning included. The easiest way to compare both options for your own property is our free rental income estimate.

For the full list of included services, see our property management in Megève.

Frequently asked questions

Can a seasonal lease cover the whole winter season?

A seasonal rental is defined as lasting no more than 90 consecutive days, with no renewal. A full season can come close to or exceed that, depending on the dates chosen, so the form of the contract should be checked case by case.

Does a seasonal lease have to be in writing?

Yes. France’s Tourism Code requires a written contract stating at least the price and a description of the property.

Who pays the tourist tax in Megève?

The tenant, on top of the rent. The owner, their manager or the platform that takes the payment collects it, then declares and pays it to the town.

What happens if my property finds no tenant for the season?

At Ascent Megève, a property with no seasonal tenant by the end of November is offered by the week for the rest of the winter.

Can I still use my chalet?

Yes. Rental dates are set with you, around your own stays in the property.

This guide provides general information and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change: for your own situation, speak to a notaire, a lawyer or the Megève town hall.