Carte G: The Complete Guide for Concierge Companies
Rachel Stehlin · Unlocker co-founder, Legal Services Manager· Updated on
Without a carte G (the French property management license), a concierge company can't manage a rental with a lease. Delegation lets you offer long-term rentals to your owners while staying their point of contact, within the framework of the Hoguet Law.
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Managing a property rented under a lease (unfurnished, furnished, mobility) falls under the Hoguet Law (the 1970 French law regulating real estate professionals) and requires a carte G.
- Getting your own license takes a recognized degree or experience, a financial guarantee of at least €110,000 and professional liability insurance.
- With delegation, a carte G holder signs the property management mandate, while the concierge company carries out the tasks and remains the owner's point of contact.
- Three contracts frame the relationship. Activation takes 48 to 72 hours per property.
Why a carte G is required to manage long-term rentals
Law No. 70-9 of January 2, 1970, known as the Hoguet Law (the 1970 French law regulating real estate professionals), governs brokerage and property management carried out on behalf of others. A company that routinely manages properties rented under a lease must hold a real estate professional license bearing the “property management” endorsement: the carte G (the French property management license).
In short-term rentals, most concierge companies work under a service agreement: welcoming guests, cleaning, linens, listing management. Long-term rentals change the nature of the job. You have to draft and sign the lease, collect rent, review it, settle service charges and return the security deposit. These acts are reserved for carte G holders.
| Task | Short-term rental | Long-term rental |
|---|---|---|
| Contract with the owner | Service agreement | Property management mandate |
| Document signed with the occupant | Booking terms | Unfurnished, furnished or mobility lease |
| Funds collected | Through the booking platform | Rent, service charges, security deposit |
| Carte G required | Not for a pure service | Yes |
| Risk without a license | Reclassification depending on the tasks | Unlawful practice: 6 months in prison and a €7,500 fine |
Getting your own carte G: requirements, timeline and costs
The carte G is issued by the local chamber of commerce and industry (CCI) for a period of three years. The application rests on four cumulative requirements.
- Professional competence: a bachelor’s-level degree (bac +3) in law, economics or business, a BTS in real estate professions, or salaried real estate experience whose required length depends on the position held.
- Financial guarantee: at least €110,000 for property management (€30,000 for the first two years of practice), taken out with a bank, an insurer or a guarantee fund.
- Professional liability insurance covering property management.
- Good standing: none of the convictions listed by law.
Ongoing obligations apply as well: a bank account dedicated to owners’ funds, required by the financial guarantor, a mandate register, principal accounting and 42 hours of continuing education over three years to renew the license. All the steps are detailed in our guide to the real estate professional license.
For a concierge company that manages a handful of properties in long-term rentals, this fixed cost weighs heavily against the revenue generated. That’s why many send the owner to an agency, and lose the mandate.
How carte G delegation works
The Hoguet Law allows a license holder to authorize people who act on their behalf. Carte G delegation relies on this mechanism: Unlocker Real Estate, the license holder, signs the property management mandate with the owner and entrusts the concierge company with carrying out the operational tasks.
Day to day, the concierge company remains the point of contact for the owner and the tenant. It finds the tenant, organizes viewings, carries out the move-in inspection and looks after the property. Unlocker Real Estate carries the regulatory responsibility: mandate, lease compliance, financial guarantee, register.
The concierge company
- Owner relationship
- Tenant search and screening
- Inspections and property follow-up
- Service provider coordination
Unlocker Real Estate
- Signing the property management mandate
- Lease compliance
- Financial guarantee and insurance
- Keeping the mandate register
Rent is collected in a dedicated account, then divided between the owner, the concierge company and service providers through split payment. The role of each contract (property management mandate, partnership agreement, service agreement) is detailed in our dedicated guides.
Your own carte G, an agency partnership or delegation
A concierge company whose owner wants to switch to long-term rentals has three options. They differ in upfront cost, timeline and the place the concierge company keeps in the relationship.
| Criterion | Own carte G | Agency partnership | Delegation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Several months | A few weeks | 48 to 72 hours per property |
| Upfront investment | Guarantee, insurance, training | None | None |
| Owner's point of contact | The concierge company | The agency | The concierge company |
| Concierge company's pay | All of the fees | Partial kickback | Service commission |
| Regulatory responsibility | The concierge company | The agency | Unlocker Real Estate |
An agency partnership looks simple, but the agency signs the mandate and becomes the owner’s point of contact. The trade-offs are detailed in our guide on concierge company vs. real estate agency: set up an agency or delegate the carte G?
What delegation costs and what it earns you
Take an apartment rented for €1,000 excl. VAT per month on a long-term basis, with a 10% excl. VAT service commission set between the concierge company and the owner.
| Item | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Rent collected | €1,000 |
| Concierge company commission (10%) | €100 |
| Carte G delegation | €20 |
| Platform fees | €10 |
| Paid to the owner | €870 |
On 20 properties rented under these conditions, the concierge company generates €24,000 in annual recurring revenue, without carrying the financial guarantee or the insurance of a license holder. Delegation also covers the mobility lease (bail mobilité, a 1 to 10 month furnished lease with no security deposit), so you can alternate with short-term rentals on the same property: see our guide on hybrid rental strategy.
To estimate what delegation would earn you on your own properties, use our commission simulator.
Setting up delegation in four steps
Sign the partnership agreement
Once, between your concierge company and Unlocker Real Estate.
Declare the property and the owner
Unlocker Real Estate sends the property management mandate to the owner.
Sign the service agreement
It sets your tasks and your commission with the owner.
Sign the lease
Rent is collected, then split automatically.
Activation takes 48 to 72 hours per property on average. Template documents are gathered in our contract templates for concierge companies.
- Légifrance — Loi n° 70-9 du 2 janvier 1970 (loi Hoguet) — verified on September 28, 2026
- Légifrance — Décret n° 72-678 du 20 juillet 1972 (application de la loi Hoguet) — verified on September 28, 2026
- CCI Pays de la Loire — Obtenir sa carte professionnelle pour les activités immobilières — verified on September 28, 2026
How Unlocker helps
You keep your owners
The mandate is carried by Unlocker Real Estate, and the relationship stays yours.
Hoguet Law compliance included
Financial guarantee, insurance, mandate register and escrow account are all covered.
Rent split automatically
Every payment is divided between the owner, the concierge company and service providers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a concierge company manage long-term rentals without a carte G (the French property management license)?
Not in its own name. It can do so through the carte G delegation of a license holder, who signs the property management mandate with the owner.
Is carte G delegation legal?
Yes. It relies on the Hoguet Law (the 1970 French law regulating real estate professionals), which allows a license holder to authorize people to act on their behalf.
Who signs the lease with the tenant?
The lease is signed on the owner's behalf by the holder of the property management mandate, Unlocker Real Estate. The concierge company prepares the application file and supports the signing.
Does the owner know Unlocker is involved?
Yes, they sign the mandate with Unlocker Real Estate. Day to day, their point of contact remains the concierge company.
How long does it take to activate delegation?
On average 48 to 72 hours per property, once the partnership agreement is signed.
Which leases are covered?
Leases that fall under property management: unfurnished, furnished and mobility leases (bail mobilité, a 1 to 10 month furnished lease with no security deposit).
How is this different from a business referrer?
A referrer earns a one-time commission. Delegation lets you manage the property and earn a commission for the entire duration of the mandate.
All our guides on the carte G
Escrow Account, Register, Three Clear Days: What the Carte G Really Requires
Concierge Company or Real Estate Agency: Should You Start a Real Agency or Delegate the Carte G?
Concierge Company Without a Carte G: How to Offer Long-Term Rentals to Your Owners
- Property Management Mandate, Partnership Agreement, Service Agreement: The Trio You Need to Sign
- Concierge Companies & the Hoguet Law: Are You (Really) Compliant When Handling Client Funds?
- Concierge Companies and Real Estate Professional Licenses: How to Operate Legally Without a Carte T or G (Complete Guide)
- Managing Long-Term Rentals Without a Carte G: Mission Impossible for a Concierge Company? (Not If You Know This Trick…)
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Go further
Offer long-term rentals this week
Delegation is activated in 48 to 72 hours per property.