APL in Montpellier: simulate your aid
How much APL in Montpellier? Calculate in 2 minutes based on your rent, income and family situation.
Understanding housing aid in Montpellier
307,101
Inhabitants
Zone 2
APL classification
34000
Postal code
Montpellier is a major city with 307,101 inhabitants, classified in APL zone 2. As a major urban centre in the Occitanie region, the city has high rental demand. The personalised housing aid (APL) is an essential benefit for thousands of tenants — students, young professionals, families and retirees — who face significant housing costs.
The local rental market in Montpellier reflects the dynamism of a major French urban centre. Strong demand and relatively high rents make APL a key resource for many tenants. The presence of higher education institutions in the area means a significant student population who benefit from APL to manage their housing costs.
Understanding the calculation
The calculation uses your actual rent up to the zone 2 cap — €293,68 for a single person — plus a flat-rate charges allowance. Above that cap, a higher rent no longer increases the aid. File your claim as soon as you sign the lease: APL is not backdated. Also check that the home meets decency standards and, where relevant, is under a CAF agreement.
APL zoning and high-demand housing zoning use separate registers. Check the official Service-Public tool for the notice period in Montpellier.
Check the notice period for your municipality on Service-Public
The local economy in the Occitanie region offers diverse employment opportunities. However, the cost of housing in urban centres like Montpellier means that APL remains an important support for many households.
APL 2026 rates in Montpellier
Monthly rent caps for zone 2, effective 1 October 2026. These are not housing aid amounts.
| Household | Tenant | Shared tenant |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | 293,68 € | 220,26 € |
| Couple without dependants | 359,47 € | 269,60 € |
| 1 dependant | 404,49 € | 303,37 € |
| 2 dependants | 463,37 € | 347,53 € |
| 3 dependants | 522,25 € | 391,69 € |
Specific rules apply to rooms and supported accommodation. Source: CAF — housing aid rates.
Estimate your housing aid in Montpellier
Your actual rent, resources and circumstances determine the estimate.
Student
Prepare your rent excluding charges, scholarship status and accommodation type. University residences may use specific rules.
Couple
Include the resources of both partners and declare that you live together. A couple is not treated as two unrelated flatmates.
Family
Declare the people dependent on your household and your resources. Household size alone does not determine your entitlement.
Indicative estimate. CAF or MSA determines your entitlement.
APL application in Montpellier: the 4 steps
4 steps to get your housing aid
Check your eligibility
Before submitting your application, estimate your APL entitlements in Montpellier using our simulator. In zone 2, rent ceilings and income conditions are specific.
Simulate my entitlementsGather your documents
For your APL application with the CAF Hérault, you will need: your signed lease, an ID, a bank account number (RIB), and the additional documents requested in your personal account.
Submit your application online
Visit the CAF Hérault website to create your account and submit your application. The process is entirely online, 7 days a week.
Access the CAF HéraultReceive your first payment
After validation of your application by the CAF Hérault, check your personal account for the payment date. Processing times depend on your file and any missing documents.
FAQ: APL in Hérault
Everything you need to know before running your simulation
1 How much APL can I get in Montpellier in 2026?
In Montpellier, housing aid depends on rent excluding charges, household circumstances and resources over the last 12 months, updated quarterly. Specific rules apply to students. The rent cap for a single tenant in zone 2 is €293,68, effective 1 October 2026. It is not an aid amount. CAF or MSA determines entitlement.
2 How do I apply for APL in Hérault?
Apply through caf.fr or MSA, depending on your scheme. Prepare your lease, identity documents and bank details. Check the exact documents and processing status in your personal account. The lease start date alone does not guarantee a payment date.
3 Why is Montpellier in APL zone 2?
APL zoning uses an official municipality register. In Montpellier, zone 2 determines the rent caps used in the calculation. It cannot be inferred from population or department alone. Check the municipality in the official Service-Public tool.
4 What housing aid is available for students in Montpellier?
Students in Montpellier may remain on their parents’ tax return. However, APL is unavailable when the student is attached to parents who pay IFI. Receiving housing aid can affect the parents’ family benefits. The applicable aid depends on the accommodation and personal circumstances.
5 Is the APL zone in Montpellier the same as a high-demand housing zone?
No. APL zoning is used to calculate housing aid. The high-demand classification uses a separate official register. Check your municipality in the Service-Public notice-period simulator.
6 What is the APL rent cap for a family in Montpellier?
In zone 2, the 2026 APL rent caps for families are progressive: €359,47/month for a couple without children, €404,49/month for a household with 1 dependent child. Each additional child increases the cap. In Montpellier, where family rents (2-3 bedrooms) often exceed these caps, APL is calculated on the capped amount. It's still worth running a simulation as the aid can reach several hundred euros per month.
7 Is APL paid directly to the landlord in Montpellier?
APL can be paid either directly to the tenant's bank account, or to the landlord who deducts it from the rent (known as "third-party payment"). In social housing (HLM), payment to the landlord is almost always the default. In private housing, the landlord requests this via the rent certificate. In Montpellier, as everywhere in France, the landlord chooses the payment method when setting up the file with the CAF Hérault.
Contact the CAF Hérault
For any questions about your APL entitlements in Montpellier, contact your departmental CAF directly.
Learn more about APL
Deepen your knowledge of housing aid
Understand your APL amount
Examples with explicit assumptions
APL income and rent caps
Distinguish rent caps from aid amounts
How APL is calculated
Parameters used to estimate housing aid
Student APL in Montpellier
Complete guide, amounts and student procedures in Montpellier
Shared housing APL in Montpellier
Per-flatmate calculation and simulation in Montpellier
Retiree APL
Housing aid for retired people
All cities in zone 2
Rates and caps for APL zone 2
Compare APL around Montpellier
Calculate your housing aid in neighbouring cities of Montpellier
Estimate your housing aid in Montpellier
Free, official 2026 scale. Your amount appears on screen; the itemised calculation and the documents to gather are sent by email, in a single message.
Non-binding estimate. Visit caf.fr for your exact entitlements.
Updated March 2026 — CAF 2026 rates. Non-binding estimate. Visit caf.fr for your exact entitlements.