Heatwaves alter French real estate market as buyers prioritize thermal comfort

More than eight in ten French people say they feel discomfort from high temperatures in their homes, and one in three would now consider moving house because of heatwaves, according to a Leboncoin study, as buyers increasingly factor thermal comfort into property decisions.

Long seen as an asset, a property's orientation is now assessed according to how cool it keeps a home, and in Paris, full southern exposure is losing its appeal.

"South-facing properties are no longer as much in demand as before, because people are realising now that when you're facing south, the sun beats down very hard," says estate agent Joseph Denke of FredéLion.

At viewings, buyers now pay close attention to anything that can help keep a property cool: a through-layout, the possibility of airing the place at night, shutters, a terrace or shaded outdoor space. Some even factor in the presence of trees in the neighbourhood.

Air conditioning, a serious selling point

Air conditioning, until now rarely highlighted in listings, is becoming a real selling point. Owners no longer hesitate to promote the feature when putting a property on the market.

"In the past, owners did not necessarily think about highlighting the fact that they had shutters or air conditioning. Today, these are things that are very clearly pushed to the fore," says Laetitia Caron, managing director of the property platform PAP.

The shift in buying criteria is weighing on the sale of certain properties. In Paris's 5th arrondissement, a 66-square-metre flat, despite its large windows, is struggling to find a buyer. The property is not dual-aspect and air circulates poorly.

"People feel as if they are stifling in there, and there is no other option than to install air conditioning," says estate agent Christian Tokoto of Guy Hoquet.

One in three French people could consider moving house

The Leboncoin study, titled "Canicule & Immobilier 2026", surveyed 1,752 people.

It found heatwaves are no longer seen as isolated events but are increasingly shaping residential choices, according to Sophie Bourg, marketing director at Leboncoin Immobilier.

"Coolness and summer comfort have become a property criterion in their own right," she says.