Renting in France? Read our guide on rental contracts to understand your obligations and tenant rights in France. France is one of the best countries to move to as an expat, thanks to its excellent educational institutions, world-class health care system , and many job opportunities. But finding your accommodation in France involves lots of administrative work like reading and understanding your contract⦠and all primarily in French.
To ensure you protect your tenant rights in France and avoid challenging situations with your landlord, learn about rental agreements, your obligations, and your tenant rights in France. To legally rent an apartment in France, it must have a minimum ceiling height of 2. In addition, the building and the apartment must not threaten a tenant's health and safety.
Generally, unfurnished vide apartments are for extended stays and offer better tenant rights with a minimum of 3 years contract. Furnished apartments in France must have a kitchen with appliances such as a microwave and fridge, bed, bed linen, kitchen utensils, and living room furniture such as tables and chairs. Unfurnished apartments usually come upholstered flooring, curtains, paint, and lights. But in some cases, properties are also rented out bare. The rental agreement will include everything, including the duration of your lease, your obligations and rights, clauses about the rental price and deposit, and fines in case of a breach of contract.
So before you sign the rental agreement, read it carefully and understand everything. In France, a typical rental contract includes:. When you move to a new apartment, one of the essential things is to perform an inventory check and prepare a report describing the condition of the property.
The landlord and the tenant create this report together. The report should include the state of each room, missing items, all existing damages, and if the apartment is clean. Make sure you take pictures and notify the landlord of any missing items and damage.
