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In France, a landlord can raise the rent, but only under specific conditions. If you're in a primary residence lease, the increase is capped: it can't exceed the previous year's rental reference index (IRL). If your landlord proposes a bigger hike than that, you can absolutely refuse it and they have no right to force it on you.
The real question is: you can refuse it, but then you need to see if you two can agree. If your lease is ending soon, they can simply choose not to renew it on the same terms. If you're in the middle of a lease and there's a revision clause, they'll apply the IRL. If they try to apply something higher, you can contest it, especially by reaching out to a tenants' association or by sending them a certified letter saying you refuse.
Keep in mind that an abusive increase can be challenged, but it's not free in terms of time and energy. If you really disagree, check what the IRL was for the quarter in question and compare it with what they're asking for. That'll give you a basis to negotiate or legally refuse.
You can definitely refuse, but you need to check if your landlord is respecting the IRL (rental reference index) - that's the actual legal ceiling, not just a suggestion. If the increase goes beyond that index, you have the right to contest it, and then your landlord will have to justify to a judge why they want more. On the other hand, if it's within the IRL limits, refusing won't really help you in the long run - you'd be better off negotiating or accepting it.
Legally, you need to receive a written notice from your landlord with justifications, and it has to respect the IRL (rental reference index) for your quarter. If it goes beyond that cap, you can clearly refuse and ask them to comply with the law. A lot of landlords just inflate the rent without checking the index, so the first step is to check the official figures on the INSEE website.
After that you have several options: either you accept and sign the amendment, or you refuse in writing (recommended to have a paper trail), or you negotiate. If the landlord insists on an illegal increase you can file a complaint with the conciliation commission or even take them to court - these cases happen pretty often and judges rarely uphold an increase that exceeds the IRL. It's not complicated to challenge if you have the documents showing they went over the cap.
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