When you want to rent a property in France you will need to have a tenancy agreement in place before you can move in. This is known as a ‘droit de bail’. This will set out the terms of the rental, the monthly cost of rents and is signed by both the new tenant and the landlord or managing agent. The tenancy agreement must include details of the owner and the agent, the dates on which the contract begins, the length of time that the contract is valid for, the rental rates and details of any planned increases to take place in the future, details of the deposit and a detailed description of the property.

Each rental agreement should include an inventory and property condition report, which the new tenant draws up with the landlord. This will detail everything included in the rental and any damage or wear to the property so that the tenant cannot be charged for this at a later date.

When you make an application to rent a property you will need to provide a certain amount of documentation. You will be asked to provide proof of your income and in some cases you will need to have a guarantor who will be asked to guarantee rental payments in the event that you miss them.

Deposits (depot de garantie) can only be the equivalent of one month’s rent which must be paid when you sign the lease agreement. You must also pay your first month’s rent at the same time. When the tenancy ends and the landlord has received the keys back he/she has a period of two months to refund the deposit, although monies for any damages can be withheld from this amount. Tenants are not permitted to request that the landlord keeps the deposit in place of the last month’s rent.

A tenant is required to have insurance and this must be arranged before signing the contract. When the contracts are renewed you will need to show that the insurance is still in place and has been renewed when required. Landlords can have a clause added to contracts which states that the contract can be terminated if the tenant does not insure the property. The insurance will cover monies and valuables in the house, any legal costs for claims by or against a third party, fire, explosion, weather damage, criminal damage to the house, acts of God and damage to windows.

Rents are normally reviewed on an annual basis and this can be set out in the original tenancy agreement or agreed at the time of renewal. The increased amount is normally linked to the index of reference of rents. Renewals are taken for granted if neither the tenant nor the owner has made a move to end the contract. Renewals can be for up to 3 years.

Tenants have a certain number of obligations. These include paying all rents by the agreed dates, pay the local property taxes, pay all service and utility charges, to ensure that the property is used in an appropriate manner and to take responsibility for any damage to the property unless it has been done by the landlord or a criminal. A tenant can only use a property for commercial reasons if it is stated in the tenancy agreement and is not permitted to sublet any part of the property without the landlord’s written permission.

A landlord also has a number of obligations to meet. The main one is to provide housing of a decent quality, taking care of drains, windows, utility services and other details of the structure. A tenant is not permitted to withhold rent if the landlord does not meet the required standard, but is entitled to make a claim through the courts.

A tenant is responsible for the ‘taxe d’habitation’ which is the local housing tax. It is due on the first day of each year and covers services such as refuse disposal, street cleaning, street lighting and similar services which are provided by the local authorities.

Furnished properties are normally rented out for a period of one year and if the landlord wants to change the terms of the rental then three months notice must be given. Three months notice is the period of termination if the landlord wants to end the agreement but the tenant need give only one month’s notice. Furnished properties usually include all the basic furniture you need for everyday life, such as living room furniture and kitchen white goods. Some landlords may provide you with some kitchen gadgets and a television.

Unfurnished properties normally only include floor coverings and curtains, although some landlords will provide you with a cooker and fridge. A tenant who wants to leave an unfurnished property will need to give three months notice and send the notice via registered mail. The landlord may agree to a one month notice period in exceptional circumstances. The landlord must give notice of six months to end the contract.

France is a large country and rental costs will vary wildly. If you are renting in Paris, for example, even a small unfurnished apartment could cost you in the region of €1000 a month, although prices are much higher than this in the very centre of the city. Other towns and cities will offer good sized apartments at around €800/900 per month and the further away you are from the city centre the cheaper it is. Renting in rural areas, particularly if you are happy with a rustic property means that you need only spend a few hundred Euros each month.