You are the owner

From now on, the  decree of July 31, 2015 du 31 juillet 2015 (n°2015-981) establishes the minimum list of furniture essential to the tenant to allow him to sleep, eat, live in the housing.

The accommodation must include at least the following amenities:

•  Bedding including a comforter or blanket
• A device for blocking out windows in rooms intended to be used as bedrooms
• Cooking plates
• An oven or microwave oven
• A refrigerator and a freezer or, at least, a refrigerator with a compartment allowing a temperature lower or equal to -6°.
• Dishes and cutlery for meals
• A table and seats
• Light fixtures
• Storage shelves
• Housekeeping equipment adapted to the characteristics of the dwelling

Depending on the type of accommodation, the room must contain everything necessary to accommodate your tenant(s) (e.g.: enough cutlery, enough tables and seats, bedding, etc.).

Find all the information on furnished accommodation on the Service Public website: Particuliers/Services publics

Homeowner’s insurance is not mandatory for landlords (but highly recommended), unless the property is located in a condominium.
The owner of a property, if he rents it, must keep it in good condition. During the entire duration of the lease, he must make the necessary repairs to maintain it in good condition (except for the rental repairs which are the responsibility of the tenant). He can therefore be held responsible if a disaster is due to a lack of maintenance or a construction defect.

For all information concerning the insurance, consult the page below:

Service public/Particuliers/Vos droits

The lessor may withhold the amounts still owed from the security deposit, in particular

• unpaid rent
• unpaid charges
• damage to the property

In the event of dispute on behalf of the tenant, it will have however to be able to justify the detention carried out by any means of proof:

• check list inventory  of entry and exit
• photos
• bailiff’s report
• invoices
• quotation
• letter of complaint of unpaid rents remained without answer

If the dwelling is located in a condominium, the security deposit is withheld under the same conditions.

However, the lessor proceeds to a provisional closing of accounts and may retain a maximum of 20% of the security deposit until the annual closing of accounts of the building.

Any document is likely to justify this provision, in particular:

• inventory of fixtures on arrival and departure
• photos
• bailiff’s report
• invoices
• quotation
• letter of complaint of unpaid rents remained without answer

The final adjustment and return of the balance (after deduction of the sums still owed to the lessor) must be made within one month of the final approval of the accounts of the building.

However, nothing prevents the parties from immediately settling all the accounts without waiting for the approval of the condominium’s accounts.

The landlord and the tenant establish a check out inventory, and they compare it with the one established at the entry.

The return of the security deposit

The same procedure must be followed for the inventory. When there is no damage, the owner returns the deposit immediately or within the time limit set in the contract.

If there is no damage, the landlord must be given notice by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. If this does not suffice, you will have to take the matter to the court of first instance of the place where the rented accommodation is located to obtain reimbursement.

The length of the notice period

The notice period is one month, including for student leases. This period runs :

• from the day of receipt of the registered letter (the presentation of the letter to the landlord does not start the notice period!
• from the date of service of the bailiff’s document.
• from the date of handing over the letter against a receipt or a certificate of attendance.

The period is calculated from date to date. In other words, any month started is not due! For example, if the notice period starts on May 10, it will end on June 9 inclusive.

IMPORTANT:
A leave of absence sent electronically to the following address is not validated:

http://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F31631

Payment of rent and charges during the notice period

When the tenant gives notice, he or she is liable for the rent and charges during the entire notice period, even if he or she leaves the premises prematurely. This means that during the notice period, the rent and charges remain due even if the landlord accepts the keys and, for example, carries out work in the apartment. Only the re-rental of the apartment during the notice period puts an end to the outgoing tenant’s obligation to pay: in this case, the outgoing tenant pays the rent and charges until the re-rental. This legal rule is imperative! The tenant is therefore obliged to pay the rent and charges during the notice period and cannot compensate the last month(s) of rent and charges with the amount of the security deposit.