🇫🇷 France · Housing
Renting and buying property in France — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
French residential leases (bail) are governed by the law of 6 July 1989 — unfurnished leases run three years and furnished leases one year. The official ANIL/ADIL network gives free housing-rights advice, and the security deposit is capped by law. There is no nationality restriction on renting or buying; a notaire handles property purchases.
- The security deposit (dépôt de garantie) is capped at one month's rent for unfurnished and two months for furnished lets.
- Landlords often require a guarantor (garant) or the free state-backed Visale guarantee; income is typically expected at ~3× the rent.
- Foreigners may buy property without restriction; the purchase is completed before a notaire.
Official authorities
- service-public.fr — Logement
Official housing rights and procedures.
- ANIL — Agence nationale pour l'information sur le logement
Free, neutral housing-law advice (ADIL network).
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Typical rents by city
| Cities | 1-bedroom rent |
|---|---|
| Paris | €1,300–2,700/mo (within Paris 20 arr.); €850–1,500 (suburbs) |
| Lyon | €750–1,200/mo (centre); €550–850/mo (outer) |
| Marseille | €650–1,000/mo (centre); €500–750/mo (outer) |
| Toulouse | €650–1,000/mo (centre); €500–750/mo (outer) |
| Nice | €850–1,400/mo (centre); €650–1,000/mo (outer) |
| Nantes | €650–1,000/mo (centre); €500–750/mo (outer) |
| Bordeaux | €700–1,100/mo (centre); €550–850/mo (outer) |
| Lille | €650–1,000/mo (centre); €500–780/mo (outer) |
| Strasbourg | €650–1,000/mo (centre); €520–800/mo (outer) |
| Montpellier | €600–950/mo (centre); €480–750/mo (outer) |
| Rennes | €600–950/mo (centre); €480–750/mo (outer) |
Tools & platforms
Government portals
- Government of France — Office of the French Prime Minister — government policies, ministers, and key legislation
- France Public Services (Service-Public) — France's unified administrative services — residence permits, taxes, social security, civil records
- French General Tax Directorate (DGFiP) — French income tax, VAT, wealth tax filing; tax residency determination; French tax number (NIF) application