How to Post Listings and Sign Sales Mandates Without a Carte T (Legally)
Without a carte T (the French real estate transaction license), you can’t post a sale listing for an owner, sign a mandate in their name, or earn a transaction commission: the Hoguet Law (the 1970 French law regulating real estate professionals) requires it. Carte T delegation lets you do all of that legally, without holding the license yourself.
The carte T is what separates an “operational” concierge company (cleaning, check-in, vendor coordination, guest replies) from one that can also market its clients’ properties: post a sale listing, sign a mandate, or see a sale through to the end.
Why the carte T is becoming a real issue for concierge companies
Many concierge companies run very well on their standard services, but hit a wall as soon as an owner wants to go further:
| What the owner asks | Legal without a carte T? |
|---|---|
| “I want to stop doing Airbnb and sell my property, can you handle it?” | Prohibited |
| “Can you post my sale listing on the platforms?” | Prohibited |
| “Can you help me sell my property?” | Prohibited |
| “Can you appraise my property?” | Prohibited |
As soon as there’s marketing, negotiation or signing on the owner’s behalf, you’re in real estate transaction territory, regulated by the 1970 Hoguet Law.
A license most concierge companies can’t easily get
To get a carte T, you need to prove professional aptitude (a real estate degree at bachelor’s level, or failing that several years of agency experience), a financial guarantee of at least €110,000, registration with the CCI (the French chamber of commerce), and mandatory insurance (professional liability, certified financial guarantee). It’s possible for your concierge company, but out of reach for the vast majority of the market.
That’s why delegation exists: it lets you operate as if you held the license, without owning it or carrying those administrative and financial burdens. If cash flow is also a pain point for you, we’ve detailed how a split payment gets you paid automatically.
The carte T is what allows a concierge company to post listings, sign mandates or support a sale. Without it, every marketing act is prohibited.
What the carte T allows, and what’s prohibited without it
As soon as you do real estate transactions on an owner’s behalf, you need a carte T. Being “just a concierge company” doesn’t change the rule.
| Action | Without a carte T | With a carte T or delegation |
|---|---|---|
| Post listings on your own website | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Sign a mandate in the owner’s name | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Take direct bookings without going through a platform | Limited (co-host only) | Allowed |
| Earn a commission tied to the transaction | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Act as the legal intermediary between owner and buyer | Prohibited | Allowed |
The most common myth
“I can post owners’ listings on my site because I don’t collect the rent.” That’s false: posting a listing is already a transaction act, so it requires a carte T or a delegation.
Many concierge companies are also starting to dip into mid-term or long-term rentals without always knowing where the legal limits are. To avoid nasty surprises, our guide to the real estate professional license brings together the rules and best practices.
What delegation changes in practice
A carte T would let you run your own direct booking site, stop depending on Airbnb or Booking, sign mandates in the owner’s name, close property sales, and position yourself as a real alternative to real estate agencies.
Unlocker’s delegation gives you the same rights, but without needing a degree, a financial guarantee, a CCI registration or an escrow account to open yourself: Unlocker carries the license, and you operate legally as an authorized independent real estate agent.
- Loi n° 70-9 du 2 janvier 1970, article 3 (carte professionnelle, Légifrance) — verified on September 26, 2026
- Loi n° 70-9 du 2 janvier 1970, article 16 (sanctions, Légifrance) — verified on September 26, 2026
- Décret n° 72-678 du 20 juillet 1972, conditions d'application de la loi Hoguet (Légifrance) — verified on September 26, 2026
- Décret n° 72-678 du 20 juillet 1972, article 30 (garantie financière d'au moins 110 000 €, Légifrance) — verified on September 26, 2026
Rachel Stehlin has been Legal Services Manager at Unlocker since September 2022. A lawyer by training, with a master's degree in law from the University of Haute-Alsace, she spent more than 13 years as a court-appointed delegate for the protection of adults under guardianship. At Unlocker, she handles legal questions around rental management and the carte G (the French property management license).
Frequently asked questions
Can a concierge company post its owners' sale listings?
Not without a carte T (the French real estate transaction license) or a delegation. Posting a listing is already a regulated real estate transaction act under the Hoguet Law (the 1970 French law regulating real estate professionals), just like signing a mandate or earning a commission on a sale.
Do you need a carte T to take direct bookings without going through Airbnb?
Pure direct booking (tourist reservations) is still possible as a co-host without a carte T. What triggers the carte T or delegation requirement is marketing a sales mandate or a lease on the owner's behalf.
Carte T: The Complete Guide to the Real Estate Transaction License
Hoguet Law, how it works, listings and fees in a single guide.
Support your owners all the way to the sale
Carte T delegation, within the framework of the Hoguet Law.