French Lease Contract (Bail de Location)

Last updated 15 June 2026AdminLanding Editorial

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Quick answer

A French residential lease (bail de location) is governed by the loi du 6 juillet 1989 (n° 89-462) as amended by the 2014 ALUR law. It must respect a 3-year minimum duration for unfurnished rentals (1 year furnished, 9 months for student leases), cap the security deposit at 1 month's rent unfurnished or 2 months furnished, state the loi Boutin habitable surface, and attach the mandatory annexes — DPE, ERP risk assessment, CREP lead report for pre-1949 buildings, and co-ownership extracts where applicable. The lease must be written in French; bilingual versions are allowed but the French text prevails. AdminLanding generates furnished and unfurnished ALUR-compliant leases in French — through a bilingual English/French interface — pre-filled from your property data, with the inspection report and monthly receipts produced from the same file.

Furnished vs Unfurnished: Key Differences

French law treats furnished and unfurnished rentals differently. The lease rules vary significantly.

Unfurnished (Non Meublé)

Minimum lease: 3 years (6 for corporate landlords)
Notice period: 3 months (1 month in tense zones)
Security deposit: max 1 month rent (excl. charges)
No furniture requirements
Rent control applies in designated zones

Furnished (Meublé)

Minimum lease: 1 year (9 months for students)
Notice period: 1 month
Security deposit: max 2 months rent (excl. charges)
Must include 11 mandatory items (Décret 2015-981)
Rent control applies in designated zones

Mandatory Clauses (Loi ALUR)

Since the loi ALUR (2014) and Décret n° 2015-587, all residential leases must follow a mandatory template and include these clauses:

Full identity of landlord and tenant

Property description and loi Boutin surface

Rent amount, charges, and payment terms

Security deposit amount and return conditions

Lease duration, renewal, and notice rules

IRL rent revision clause

AdminLanding's lease generator includes all mandatory clauses automatically. You can also add optional clauses for co-tenancy, pets, or professional use.

Required Annexes

These documents must be attached to every lease. The landlord bears the cost.

DPE

Energy performance diagnostic (Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique). Valid 10 years.

DPE — see what changed in 2026

ERP

Natural, mining, and technological risks assessment (État des Risques et Pollutions).

CREP

Lead exposure report. Required for properties built before January 1, 1949.

Surface

Loi Boutin habitable surface measurement. Mandatory for all leases since 2009.

Previous Rent

Previous tenant's rent amount. Required in rent-controlled zones (zones tendues).

Règlement

Co-ownership rules extract (extraits du règlement de copropriété) if applicable.

Once the lease is signed, the next legal step is the move-in inspection — a mandatory step after signing the lease.

Frequently Asked Questions

French lease contracts, ALUR compliance, and tenant rights.

Is a verbal lease valid in France?

No. Since the loi ALUR (2014), all residential leases must be written. A verbal agreement cannot be enforced and exposes both parties to legal risk. The written contract must follow the mandatory template defined by Décret n° 2015-587.

What happens if a mandatory clause is missing?

A missing mandatory clause does not void the entire lease, but the landlord may face penalties and the missing provision will be interpreted in favor of the tenant. For example, a missing rent revision clause means the landlord cannot increase the rent.

Can I modify the lease after signing?

Yes, through a formal amendment (avenant au bail) signed by both parties. Common amendments include rent revision, change of tenant (in co-tenancy), or modification of charges. The amendment must reference the original lease.

Who pays for the mandatory diagnostics?

The landlord pays for all mandatory diagnostics (DPE, ERNMT, lead, gas, electricity). These costs cannot be passed to the tenant. The diagnostics must be performed by certified professionals and attached to the lease.

What is the loi Boutin surface measurement?

The loi Boutin surface (surface habitable) is the floor area excluding walls, stairs, and areas with ceiling height below 1.80m. It must appear in the lease. If the actual surface is more than 5% less than stated, the tenant can request a rent reduction proportional to the difference.

Can a foreigner sign a French lease?

Yes. There is no nationality requirement for signing a lease in France. However, the landlord may request a guarantor (caution) or a Visale guarantee for tenants without French income history. The lease must be in French — bilingual versions are allowed but the French text prevails.

Important: AdminLanding is a technology platform, not a law firm. We do not practice law, provide legal advice, or act as lawyers (avocats), notaries (notaires), or any regulated legal professional as defined by French Law No. 71-1130 of December 31, 1971. The documents and information provided are general-purpose templates for convenience only — they do not constitute personalized legal advice and are not tailored to your specific situation. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified legal professional before signing or relying on any document generated through our platform.

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