The classification of furnished tourist accommodation

What is furnished tourism?

Furnished tourist accommodation is a furnished house, apartment or studio, for the exclusive use of the tenant, rented to transient customers who stay by the day, week or month, and who do not not take up residence.

Why ask for the classification
“tourist furnished”?

• For to be officially recognized as furnished accommodation with a star rating, which is a guarantee of quality and which is internationally recognized;
• for stand out the multitude of “non-professional” rental offers present on the platforms, which reassures the customer;
• to pay less tax thanks to a tax allowance of 71% ;
• to charge a lower tourist tax to the customer.

What obligations for the owner?

• Declaration in town hall (CERFA 14004*04)
• Obtaining a SIRET number from the registry of the Lot commercial court to be able to claim the tax allowance
• Display the classification decision visibly inside the accommodation

The main principles of classification

It is a voluntary classification which includes 5 categories (from 1 to 5 stars), valid for 5 years after which the lessor must make a new request for classification if he wishes.

Ranking criteria

The ranking grid contains 133 control criteria (compulsory and à la carte) divided into 3 main chapters: equipment, customer services, accessibility and sustainable development.

To obtain the classification, it is necessary to reach a minimum number of points (addition of the obligatory points and à la carte).

This control is carried out on the basis of a declared visit. It works according to a point system, each criterion being assigned a number of points.

The combination of "compulsory" and "à la carte" points is designed to take into account the identity of each furnished apartment and its commercial positioning.

The classification procedure

The lessor of the furnished accommodation must have a visit of his furnished accommodation carried out by an authorized body.

In the Lot, two possibilities: Gîtes de France Lot and Cahors Lot Valley Tourist Office. In the month following the inspection of the accommodation, the organization which carried out the inspection sends the lessor the inspection report and the classification proposal.

Claim

In case of dissatisfaction following the classification decision, you can send a registered letter with AR within a maximum period of 15 days after receipt of the result of the control visit. Any complaint must include the surname, first name and full contact details of the owner, the address of the accommodation concerned, the date of the visit, the name of the inspector and the specific reason for the complaint. The complaint will be processed within 8 days.

How is a classification with the Cahors - Vallée du Lot Tourist Office carried out?

The host contacts the tourist office to request a classification visit: make an appointment, return the signed visit request documents.

An authorized person from the tourist office carries out the classification visit within 3 months of the date of receipt of the order form.

The furnished accommodation is visited on all the criteria of the classification table. On the day of the visit, the accommodation must be in rental condition (cleaning done, beds made, household linen ready, installation of garden furniture, etc.). The visit is limited to the premises that are the subject of the classification request.

The visit is invoiced at €180 for the first apartment, and €120 per additional apartment visited on the same day,

The visit certificate, the criteria grid and the classification proposal will be sent to you within one month after the visit.

If the classification is granted, the Cahors-Vallée du Lot tourist office sends the classification decision to Lot Tourisme for the publication of the furnished.