Understanding the classification

The official 4 or 5-star classification

At Gemlidays, the official star classification is one of the pillars of our selection. It should not be confused with a platform rating or a commercial label: it is a state-regulated process, based on an on-site inspection.

The star classification (from 1 to 5) is awarded by an accredited body, after a visit by an inspector who checks the property against 133 objective criteria: size, equipment, bedding, services offered, accessibility. Unlike a guest review, it is not about how a stay felt, but about verifiable and measurable features of the property itself.

• An on-site inspection by an independent professional, not a self-declaration by the host.
• The same set of criteria throughout France, guaranteeing a common minimum standard for all properties in the same category.
• Valid for 5 years, with a new inspection visit on renewal.
• A double check: Gemlidays verifies the authenticity and validity of each host’s classification certificate before admission, and throughout their membership.

In practice, the grid includes 133 criteria in three chapters: equipment and fittings, guest services, accessibility and sustainable development. To obtain 4 or 5 stars, a property must score at least 95% of the mandatory points for its category, plus a share of the optional points: 30% for 4 stars, 40% for 5 stars. This generally means quality bedding, high-end equipment, multilingual information and a level of service close to that of a hotel.

This demanding standard explains why few properties achieve it: of around 1.2 million furnished holiday rentals in France, barely 2% are classified 4 or 5 stars (source: ADN Tourisme, 2025). Choosing a Gemlidays property therefore means choosing one that belongs to this rigorously inspected minority.

For a host, classification is a voluntary process with several concrete benefits, beyond its value for joining a selective network such as Gemlidays.

This 2% minority is a real commercial differentiator: among hundreds of unclassified properties on the platforms, an official 4 or 5-star classification makes a listing stand out immediately to travellers. Joining Gemlidays means placing yourself within this quality minority from the outset.

• A point of difference: an official classification can help justify a higher price compared with unclassified properties, whose services are not verified.
• A prerequisite for joining the Gemlidays network: a 4 or 5-star classification is one of our selection criteria, and we check each applicant’s certificate before admission.
• Eligibility to accept ANCV holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances).
• A tax benefit: under the French micro-BIC regime, classified furnished rentals benefit from a 50% allowance, compared with 30% for unclassified ones (subject to the applicable ceilings).
• A tourist tax at the fixed rate for the category, instead of a percentage of the nightly rate for unclassified rentals.

The process is carried out with an accredited body, which organises an inspection visit and then issues its classification decision. Timescales vary between bodies. The classification is valid for five years; after this period, a new visit is required to keep it.

Classification rules change regularly. This page is for information only: to apply for classification, contact an accredited body or visit the website of Atout France, the reference authority on the subject.

Is your property not classified 4 or 5 stars? Discover GemVisited, our other admission route.