practical
Several changes come in for residents of France in October 2026
Gas price rises and a new leasing scheme for heat pumps are among updates
October promises to be a big month for changes in France and follows a busy September.
September also saw several new announcements of upcoming changes.
Among the dates to note across October are the deadlines to pay the property owners’ tax, the taxe foncière.
We summarise key changes for households in France this month below.
Gas prices go up
Household gas prices are rising again as the market continues to be impacted by tensions in the Middle East.
The benchmark price for gas, set by the Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE), will increase by 6.3%.
Flexible contracts – accounting for around 60% of total contracts in France – are expected to increase by around this amount. Fixed-price contracts will be unaffected.
It follows a 5.6% increase in September.
Expanded fuel aid
The government is to relaunch its fuel aid scheme, with drivers able to obtain another €100 in payouts.
Drivers who already benefitted from the first round of the scheme (lasting until September 30) will automatically receive a new payment.
The programme has seen income requirements expanded, with an extra 2.5 million people eligible for the autumn/winter version.
However, it remains limited to those who use their vehicle for work, either as part of their job or commuting a certain distance per day.
Full details are available in our article here.
Social leasing scheme for heat pumps
The government’s social leasing scheme for heat pumps opened on October 1, with the aim of installing heat pumps in around 55,000 homes over the next two years.
The scheme is open to occupants of detached homes who fall into ‘very modest’ or ‘modest’ income levels, based on calculations from the Agence nationale de l’habitat (Anah, housing agency). An overview of income thresholds is available here. They must currently be using a gas or oil heating system.
The scheme will lease out funds of up to €9,800 to cover installation costs, which are paid back over three years as part of the energy bills settled.
The government says these bills will be equal or lower than their current amounts, even with paying back the loan. After three years, when the full amount has been paid, bills will be cut by half.
Part of the funding will come through energy savings certificates (certificats d’économie d’énergie, CEE), with the remainder from the eco-renovation scheme MaPrimeRénov’ and a top-up government fund.
Households do not apply directly to the government, but through a verified company that is part of the scheme.
Currently, there are six approved companies: CapConfort, Izy by EDF, PAC'TE français, Octopus x Effy, Réflex, and Sonepar. Contact their customer support team or check their websites for more information.
Medical charge cap increases
Annual caps on two kinds of medical charges will climb from October 1, from €50 to €70.
Total caps will therefore increase from €100 to €140.
The change applies both to franchise médicale and the participation forfaitaire.
From 2028 onwards, increases to the caps will be tied to inflation.
More information on these charges is available in our article here.
Reduced sick leave allowance
Another round of changes for sick leave is set to come into force from October 15.
From this date, the maximum duration for the payment of daily allowances for certain conditions requiring long-term sick leave will be reduced from three years to one year.
The new limitation will apply to sick leave for a health issue classified as a long-term illness (affection longue durée, ALD) but one that does not receive 100% coverage through Assurance Maladie (ALD non exonérante).
Employees will have to return to work for at least one year to benefit from another year of maximum leave.
Note that those who have already taken at least six months of sick-leave due to an illness as of October 15, 2026, are not impacted and continue to benefit from up to three years of daily allowances, as do those with an ALD at 100% coverage.
Reimbursement for reusable menstrual products
New rules will see younger people and those on France’s low-income complementary medical insurance receive reimbursement for certain reusable menstruation products for the first time.
They will receive coverage for a maximum of two products per year of either reusable menstruation underwear/period pants (les culottes menstruelles) or menstruation cups (les coupes menstruelles).
People aged 25 and below who are covered by Assurance Maladie, regardless of income, will be reimbursed 60% of a product’s cost.
People of all ages subscribed to the Complémentaire santé solidaire will receive full reimbursement.
Note, items have to be purchased from a pharmacy for reimbursements to take effect – items purchased online or from commercial stores are not eligible.
The list of full rules is available on the Service public help site here.
Physios join prevention scheme, no upfront costs for ‘Mon soutien psy’
From October 1, physiotherapists will also be included in the ‘Mon bilan prévention’ scheme.
These prevention-focused appointments target people in the following age groups: 18–25, 45–50, 60–65, and 70–75.
The check-up appointment under the scheme will be fully reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.
In addition, the ‘Mon soutien psy’ scheme will adopt the tiers payant, or third-party payment, system.
This means appointments scheduled under the programme will no longer require patients to pay upfront for the portion of the appointment being reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.
New tow and impound fees
New fees for impounding and associated costs will come into effect from October 1.
Rates will be as follows:
physical immobilisation (wheel clamping): €7.60
pre-impoundment operations (moving the vehicle): €15.20
removal: €135 (up from €127.65)
daily storage: €7.15 (up from €6.75)
preparation for sale: €100
Note that in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, and Marseille, costs can differ.
From 2027, costs will be adjusted annually based on fuel, labour, and insurance, and vehicle costs.
Change to rental agreements
Tenancy agreements and renewals signed on or after October 1, 2026, will see a series of changes.
Landlords benefit from a shortened six-week timeframe for initiating an automatic termination clause, allowing them to end the lease early "in the event of a tenant breach" (such as unpaid rent or failure to provide a security deposit).
Alongside these mandatory changes, optional clauses including a ban on hosting the property on tourist rental sites and including both the landlord’s and tenant’s mobile numbers on the lease.
Information on funeral costs
From October 1, funeral directors must give families a standardised information sheet about funeral rights and costs.
Leaflets will be identical across providers – without showing company names, logos, etc – and contain information about several rights, including:
Funeral arrangements, specifically the freedom to choose a funeral home and the main steps to be taken
Mandatory services for organising the funeral
Services required only in specific situations, for example, to comply with health regulations or requirements related to transporting or preserving the body
It will also contain information about the types of coffin typically used for burials, and obligations for burials and cremations.
The leaflet must also inform families that obtaining a quote is free and does not require a family to sign up with that director, and that they can obtain quotes from several directors before choosing one.
Housing benefit increase
The aide personnalisée au logement (APL) housing benefit will increase by 1.15% in October.
This is slightly higher than the 1.04% increase last year, however no change is expected in 2027 as the government announced plans to freeze the benefit in the 2027 budget.
This however is dependent on the budget being passed with this measure still intact.
Earlier this year, the benefit was cut for non-EU students in France.
You can check if you are eligible using the official Service public help site here.
Easier access to labour courts
Changes to the application process for a hearing at a labour court (conseil de prud’hommes) will come into force from October 1.
The number of supporting documents required to request a hearing over a labour dispute with an employer will decrease.
For example, evidence will only be required once the initial request has been processed, rather than for the initial submission.
