Renting in France: understanding the Alur Law and your tenant rights

France has strong tenant protections, but the system can feel opaque if you do not speak French. The key law you need to know is the Loi Alur (2014), which standardized contracts, capped deposits, and strengthened inspection requirements. Here is what matters as a tenant.

Types of leases

French leases come in two main forms:

• Location vide (unfurnished) - minimum 3-year lease for private landlords, 6 years for corporate landlords
• Location meublee (furnished) - minimum 1-year lease (9 months for students)

Since 2015, all leases must follow a standardized template (contrat-type) introduced by the Alur Law, with mandatory information including the habitable surface area, a local rent reference, and an energy performance certificate (DPE).

Depot de garantie (security deposit)

The deposit is capped by law:

• Unfurnished rental: maximum 1 month's rent (excluding charges)
• Furnished rental: maximum 2 months' rent (excluding charges)

The landlord must return the deposit within 1 month of your departure if the etat des lieux shows no damage, or within 2 months if deductions are claimed. If the landlord is late, you are entitled to a penalty of 10% of the monthly rent for each month of delay.

Etat des lieux (condition report)

This is the French equivalent of a move-in/move-out inspection. It must be completed jointly by the landlord and tenant, in writing, at both entry and exit. Key rules:

• The tenant has the right to demand an etat des lieux d'entree. If the landlord refuses, they cannot later claim the deposit for damages.
• The move-out report must follow the same format as the move-in report.
• If no etat des lieux was completed at entry, the tenant is presumed to have received the property in good condition, which means you could be held responsible for pre-existing damage.

Always insist on a thorough etat des lieux and take your own photos. This document is your primary protection in deposit disputes. For practical documentation standards, follow our move-in inspection checklist.

Rent control in zones tendues

In designated high-demand areas (zones tendues), including Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and other major cities, rent for new leases is capped. Landlords must stay within a reference rent (loyer de reference) set by local authorities. If your rent exceeds the cap, you can challenge it.

Home insurance is mandatory

Unlike most European countries, France requires tenants to have home insurance (assurance habitation). Your landlord can terminate the lease if you fail to provide proof of insurance within one month of moving in.

What to do in a dispute

If your landlord will not return the deposit or you disagree with deductions, you can contact the Commission departementale de conciliation (a free local mediation service). If mediation fails, you can take the case to court. Before you reach that point, use this Europe-wide deposit protection playbook and scan this rental contract red flags guide to strengthen your position.

For preventive steps that work beyond Spain too, read our security deposit protection guide for Europe and this move-in inspection checklist.

How RentalProof helps

RentalProof simplifies French lease language and helps tenants keep structured evidence from move-in onward.