Carte T delegation
Contact usCarte T for short-term rental managers: the complete guide (2026)
Everything you need to know about the professional real-estate transaction licence for short-term rental managers: when it is required, how to obtain it and what the alternatives are.
What is the carte T?
The carte T, or professional real-estate transaction licence, is issued by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI). It is required by the Hoguet Act (French real-estate law) (Act n°70-9 of 2 January 1970) of anyone carrying out a real-estate brokerage activity.
The « T » stands for « Transaction ». This licence covers the marketing of real-estate properties: acting as an intermediary between an owner and a tenant or a buyer. It is different from the carte G, which covers rental management (collecting rent, management mandates).
The carte T is valid for 3 years and must be renewed with the Chamber of Commerce (CCI). Its holder is subject to a continuing-education requirement of 42 hours over 3 years.
What the carte T allows:
- Publish listings under your own name on the platforms (Airbnb, Booking, etc.)
- Write and distribute listings including your contact details
- Validate booking requests on the platforms
- Prospect and find tenants
- Sign short-term rental contracts
- Handle prospect requests
- Negotiate the rental terms
Why the carte T concerns short-term rental managers
Many management companies overlook an essential point: if you publish listings under your own name (and not the owner's), you are carrying out a real-estate brokerage activity in the sense of the Hoguet Act. This means the carte T is mandatory.
Here are the concrete situations where the carte T is required for a management company:
Airbnb co-hosting: if you manage an owner's listing as a co-host and you validate the bookings, you are in a brokerage situation. The carte T is required.
Publishing on your website: if you publish listings on your own site with your contact details, you act as an intermediary between the owner and the potential tenant.
Promotion on social media: if you post on Instagram, Facebook or any other social network pointing to your contact details for booking a property that is not yours, that is an act of real-estate transaction.
Even the simple act of accepting or refusing booking requests on behalf of an owner can be considered an act of brokerage.
Warning: publishing a listing on Instagram or Facebook with your contact details constitutes an act of real-estate transaction in the sense of the Hoguet Act.
The activities that require the carte T
Here is a summary table of the activities that do or do not require the carte T for a management company:
| Activity | Carte T required? | Legal reference |
|---|---|---|
| Writing and publishing listings with your contact details | ✓ Yes | Art. 1 and 1-1 Hoguet Act |
| Validating bookings on platforms | ✓ Yes | Art. 1 and 1-1 Hoguet Act |
| Signing the short-term rental contract | ✓ Yes | Art. L 324-2 Tourism Code |
| Handling prospect requests | ✓ Yes | Art. 1 and 1-1 Hoguet Act |
| Property photos | ✗ No | Outside Hoguet Act scope |
| Service provision contract | ✗ No | Outside Hoguet Act scope |
| Pricing advice (without deciding) | ✗ No | Outside Hoguet Act scope |
| Optimising the owner's existing listing | ✗ No | Outside Hoguet Act scope |
The Airbnb co-host case and the carte T
Airbnb's co-hosting feature blurs the lines between service provision and real-estate brokerage. The key question is: who controls the listing and who validates the bookings?
If you accept or refuse bookings, you carry out an act of brokerage that requires the carte T. On the other hand, if you limit yourself to check-in, cleaning and communication with travellers after a booking, no licence is required.
Co-host without a carte T: possible if...
- The owner stays in control of their listing
- Bookings are validated by the owner
- Your contact details are not on the listing
- You only invoice service provision
Co-host with a carte T: mandatory if...
- You publish the listing under your own name
- You validate booking requests
- Your contact details appear on the listing
- You sign the rental contract
Operating without a carte T: what is allowed
It is entirely possible to run a short-term rental management activity without a carte T, provided you stay within the scope of service provision. The owner must retain control of their listings and validate the bookings themselves. You invoice your services as a service provider.
The 5 activities allowed without a carte T:
Optimise the existing listing — the owner publishes and validates the listing themselves
Advise on pricing — the owner sets the final rate
Manage traveller communication — only after the booking
Organise cleaning, check-in and maintenance — purely operational services
Take the photos and write the descriptions — the owner publishes them
How to obtain the carte T
The carte T is issued by the Chamber of Commerce (CCI), like the carte G. The professional-aptitude conditions are identical. The major difference: the carte T does not require a financial guarantee if you do not handle funds on behalf of third parties.
By diploma
- BTS in Real-Estate Professions (French two-year degree)
- Bachelor's/Master's in law, economics or business
- Diploma from the ICH (French real-estate institute)
- Any bac+3 (three-year) real-estate diploma
By experience
- 10 years of experience (without the baccalauréat)
- 4 years (with the baccalauréat)
- 3 years (with bac+2 or higher)
Good news: if you already hold the carte G, the conditions for obtaining the carte T are identical. You can apply for both licences at the same time with the Chamber of Commerce (CCI).
Carte T delegation
If you do not meet the conditions to obtain the carte T yourself, you can operate under the carte T of a holder. They issue you a collaborator certificate that authorises you to carry out transaction activities in their name.
This mechanism is common in real-estate networks. For management companies, it is less widespread than carte G delegation but remains a viable option, in particular for companies that want to publish listings under their own name without going through the full obtention process.
Carte T delegation works on the same principle as carte G delegation: a holder authorises you to operate under their licence through a collaborator certificate.
Carte T vs carte G: comparison table
The carte T and carte G cover distinct activities. Here is a detailed comparison to understand which one (or ones) applies to you:
| Aspect | Carte T (Transaction) | Carte G (Management) |
|---|---|---|
| Main activity | Marketing, publication | Rental management, collection |
| Publishing listings | ✓ | ✗ |
| Prospecting tenants | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collecting rent | ✗ | ✓ |
| Signing management mandates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Handling deposits | ✗ | ✓ |
| Financial guarantee | Not required | Mandatory (30,000 € min.) |
| Continuing-education requirement | 42h / 3 years | 42h / 3 years |
Important: a full-service management company that publishes listings AND collects rent needs both licences.
Penalties for operating without a carte T
Penalties provided for (Article 14, Hoguet Act):
- Same penalties as for the carte G (Article 14, Hoguet Act)
- A fine of up to 7,500 €
- Up to 6 months' imprisonment
- Nullity of the contracts
- Return of the commissions
Inspections have been multiplying since the Le Meur Act (2024), which tightens the regulation of short-term rentals.
Frequently asked questions
Only if you publish listings under your own name or if you act as an intermediary in the rental transaction. If the owner remains in control of their listings and validates the bookings, the carte T is not required.
Yes, if the listing is under the owner's name and you do not appear on it as an intermediary. If the listing carries your name or your contact details, the carte T is required.
Yes, if you post on Instagram, Facebook or any other social network including your contact details and offering the rental of a property that is not yours. That is an act of intermediation in the sense of the Hoguet Act.
The carte T covers marketing (publication, prospecting, signing leases). The carte G covers management (collection, management mandates, deposits). The carte T does not allow you to collect funds on behalf of third parties.
Same process as the carte G: a Chamber of Commerce (CCI) application with a diploma or proof of experience, professional liability insurance mandatory. Difference: no financial guarantee required if you do not handle funds.
If the co-host validates bookings or publishes listings under their own name, yes. If they limit themselves to check-in, cleaning and communication after a booking (validated by the owner), no.
Yes, the two licences are independent. You can hold only the carte T if you only do marketing without collecting funds. Conversely, some management companies hold only the carte G.
The cost is lower than the carte G because there is no mandatory financial guarantee (if you do not handle funds). Expect around 120 € in Chamber of Commerce (CCI) fees + 300 to 800 € of annual professional liability insurance.
Do you need a carte T for your rental management company?
We offer a carte T delegation service for short-term rental managers. Publish your listings in full legal compliance.
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