The mandatory notice period in French rental law — 3 months for unfurnished tenancies (1 month in zones tendues) and 1 month for furnished, required to end a lease.
Préavis is the mandatory notice period a tenant must give before vacating a French rental property. Its length is set by the Loi ALUR (2014) and depends on the type of tenancy and, for unfurnished properties, the location. The notice runs from the date the landlord receives the tenant's registered letter — not the sending date.
For unfurnished (nu/vide) residential rental properties, the standard tenant préavis is 3 months. However, the Loi ALUR reduced it to 1 month for tenants in zones tendues — designated high-demand areas including Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lille, and many other major French cities. 1 month is also permitted in specific personal circumstances: new employment offer or employer transfer; redundancy; receipt of RSA (solidarity income) or AAH (disability allowance); property declared uninhabitable; or tenant over 60 with a health condition requiring change of accommodation.
For furnished (meublé) rental properties, tenant préavis is always 1 month regardless of location. Furnished tenancies have a standard 1-year lease term (9 months for student accommodation) compared to 3 years for unfurnished.
The préavis runs from the date the landlord receives the notice by registered post (lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception). During the préavis, the tenant remains fully liable for rent and charges — even if they vacate early — unless the landlord agrees a reduced period in writing or a new tenant takes possession.
Landlords also have notice obligations at lease end: 6 months before expiry for unfurnished tenancies, with highly restricted grounds (repossession for personal use, sale, or serious tenant breach). French tenant protection is among the strongest in Europe — landlords cannot give notice simply because they prefer different tenants.
Yes, with the landlord's agreement or if a replacement tenant is found and accepted by the landlord. Even if the tenant leaves early, they remain liable for rent until the end of the préavis period unless the landlord formally agrees otherwise in writing.
A landlord cannot legally end an unfurnished tenancy during the lease term except in exceptional circumstances via court order. Any notice given outside permitted grounds or timing is invalid. Seek advice from an ADIL (free housing advisory service) or a lawyer immediately.
For furnished student leases (bail étudiant), the term is 9 months and the tenant préavis is 1 month. The lease does not tacitly renew — it ends at 9 months without notice from either party (unless renewed). This is designed for academic-year tenancies.
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