GUIDE: FURNISHING A PIECE OF FURNITURE
Summary
- What is a furnished rental?
- What are the mandatory equipment in a furnished apartment?
- What additional equipment for a furnished rental?
- Who is responsible for the list of mandatory equipment?
- How to choose the furniture to rent your apartment furnished ?
- Our advice for the choice of mandatory equipment
- Should Ask the owner's permission to remove the rented furniture?
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1. What is a furnished rental ?
In France, according to Decree No. 2015-981 of 31/07/2015, a furnished rental should include all the essential furniture and equipment for a proper living space.
This type of rental property brings advantages to both the tenant and the owner, including:
However, a furnished rental also has a number of risks and disadvantages, including:
This type of rental property brings advantages to both the tenant and the owner, including:
- The fixed rent may be higher due to the additional benefits.
- The furnishing makes it possible to stand out from the properties on the market.
- The furnished rental lease is more flexible, allowing for less risk of unpaid rent.
- Taxation is more advantageous (i.e. tax allowance, deductible expenses, etc.)
- A higher security deposit
- In furnished rentals, the security deposit can be equivalent to two months' rent (excluding charges). As housing is more equipped, the risk of deterioration is greater
- It is possible to go from an unfurnished rental to a furnished rental.
However, a furnished rental also has a number of risks and disadvantages, including:
- As rental terms are shorter, tenant turnover is higher.
- Rental vacancies are sometimes more frequent between two tenants.
- Furniture and equipment must be maintained and regularly renewed (higher initial investment).
- This can lead to a greater risk of deterioration.
2. What are the mandatory equipment in a furnished apartment?
A furnished rental in Paris must at least include:
Important Note: The judge may decide to reclassify the rental contract for furnished rental as a bare/empty housing contract in the event of non-compliance with this mandatory equipment list.
- Bedding (bed or sofa bed) with duvet and/or blanket
- Device concealing windows in rooms (i.e. shutters or thick curtains)
- Hobs (built-in or separate)
- Oven and/or microwave oven
- Refrigerator
- Freezer or freezer compartment of the refrigerator (with a maximum temperature of -6°)
- A sufficient number of dishes for occupants to take meals (i.e. plates, cutlery, glasses, etc.)
- Kitchen utensils (i.e. pots, pans, etc.)
- Table
- Seats
- Storage shelves
- Light fixtures
- Housekeeping equipment adapted to the characteristics of the accommodation (i.e. vacuum cleaner if there is carpet, broom, and mop for tiles, etc.)
Important Note: The judge may decide to reclassify the rental contract for furnished rental as a bare/empty housing contract in the event of non-compliance with this mandatory equipment list.
3. What additional equipment for a furnished rental?
For the comfort of the tenant, the owner/landlord may decide to add more equipment to the property. This may also justify the increase in the price of the rent.
This may include adding:
Important Note: Linen (i.e. sheets, towels, and tea towels) is mandatory as part of a seasonal rental, but it's not always the case for furnished rentals.
It’s worth noting the non-exhaustive list of other equipment too.
For The Living Area (Including the Bathroom):
For The Kitchen (it is recommended to have multiple to anticipate breakage):
For The Bedroom/s:
This may include adding:
- A coffee maker
- A kettle
- A television set
- More mirrors
- Food processors
- Carpets
- A clock
- Cushions
- A washing machine
- A dishwasher
- Provide linen (i.e. towels, sheets, tea towels, etc.)
- More interior decorations
Important Note: Linen (i.e. sheets, towels, and tea towels) is mandatory as part of a seasonal rental, but it's not always the case for furnished rentals.
It’s worth noting the non-exhaustive list of other equipment too.
For The Living Area (Including the Bathroom):
- Bagless vacuum cleaner (no broom vacuum cleaner)
- Broom, mop, and seal (for cleaning)
- Iron and ironing board
- Hairdryer
- Many hangers in the closets
For The Kitchen (it is recommended to have multiple to anticipate breakage):
- Complete set of small and large plates
- Complete set water glass, wine, and champagne
- Complete set of coffee cups
- Complete set of stoves (preferably stainless steel) – To see if induction or not (1 small, 1 medium, 1 large)
- Complete set of pans (preferably stainless steel) – To see if induction or not (1 small, 1 medium, 1 large)
- Complete set of cutlery (small and large spoons, forks, knives)
- Meat knife set
- Set of wooden kitchen utensils
- Scissors
- Can opener
- Bottle opener
- Cutting boards (x3)
- Colander
- Nespresso coffee maker or filter coffee maker or both
- Kettle
- Toaster
For The Bedroom/s:
- Blackout curtains in the rooms
- Pillow (1 per person)
- Duvets
- Mattress protector
- Decorative cushions on the sofa
4. Who is responsible for the list of mandatory equipment?
The Owner's Obligations
The Tenant’s Obligations
What to Do in Case of Dispute?
- All furniture and equipment made available to the tenant belongs to the owner. It is thus necessary to ensure that they are in good condition and in proper working order for use. In the eyes of the law, the owner must replace defective appliances if the breakdown is due to obsolescence or force majeure (i.e. a refrigerator that breaks down because it is too old).
The Tenant’s Obligations
- The tenant is responsible for the proper use and maintenance of the furniture and equipment. They must notify the owner in case of problems as soon as possible. If the damage comes from obvious negligence on their part, it is up to the tenant to repair the damage or replace the furniture (i.e. their cat damaged the sofa with its claws).
What to Do in Case of Dispute?
- Registered mail
- If you are unable to speak to the other party (owner/landlord or tenant), send them a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt describing the facts as accurately as possible.
- This letter must be attached with documents to support the statements (i.e. legal texts, regulations, invoices, photos, etc.).
- Conciliation (mandatory)
- If you're unable to settle the case with registered mail, you must initiate conciliation with a conciliator of justice (free process).
- Refer the matter to the judge
5. How to choose the furniture to rent your apartment furnished?
To choose the right furniture for the rental, it's better to:
- Create a list by room
- Set a budget
- Get inspired online (via social media)
- Consult furniture stores for online purchases and check delivery times
- Ensure the delivery method (if they drop it off at the lobby of the building or in your unit)
- Choose practical, resistant, and durable furniture
- Create plenty of storage space
6. Our advice for the choice of mandatory equipment
- For The Living Room
- The sofa is the centerpiece in the living room – choose dark colors and a stain-resistant coating that is easy to wash. Provide a sofa bed for small areas (for studio to two-bedroom apartments).
- Pay attention to the delivery, find out if it goes well through the stairs or the front door, otherwise plan a delivery via a furniture lift.
- Also plan a big-screen smart TV, with available applications like Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, etc.
- For The Dining Room
- Get a dining table and chairs that are resistant to stains and scratches.
- Choose a durable coating that is easy to clean for maintenance.
- For The Kitchen
- Provide space for a worktop, choose resistant and durable materials, a dishwasher (even for small areas), oven, microwave, and 4-burner hob (Important Note: do not choose 2 burners even for small surfaces).
- For The Bathroom
- For showers, provide a soap dish/shampoo compartment, a towel radiator, hooks for towels or bathtubs, a hair dryer, and magnifying mirror.
- Be careful to protect the stone and marble coverings around the basin to avoid make-up stains (put a tray or a protective coating).
- For The Bedroom/s
- The bed is the main element in a furnished rental, so you need to maximize comfort and space. It is necessary to provide a mix of bed sizes when you have several rooms (i.e. a queen-sized bed in one room and two solo beds in another).
- Provide blackout curtains or blinds for a good quality of sleep.
- Provide several pillows, especially for large beds of 180cm (i.e. plan 4 pillows, with 4-season polyester duvets to avoid allergies to feathered duvets).
- For The Laundry
- Go for a washer and line dryer that can be stacked, or in which case for small areas a washer-dryer combination.
- For the Iron, ironing board, and bagless vacuum cleaner, get them in compact sizes for small areas and large radii for large areas.
- Remember to choose your vacuum cleaner according to the floor (i.e. if it is parquet or carpet and carpet).
- For Storage
- Provide plenty of storage (drawers with wardrobes (with many hangers) but also shelves).
- It is better to favor closets than dressers that are less used.
- For short-term rentals or seasonal rentals, you can plan to lock a locked closet to leave your personal belongings.
- By the entrance, provide a place to hang coats and store shoes.
- For The Terrace/Balcony (if applicable)
- Provide outdoor furniture, a bistro table with 2 chairs for a small balcony
- Perhaps a dining table or coffee table
- Provide an Outdoor sofa or bench for larger spaces.
7. Do I have to ask the owner's permission to remove the rented furniture?
The law on furnished apartments states that without the permission of the owner (via written consent), furniture kept in the rental property may not be removed during a lease. It is essential to store furniture that is not suitable so that it can be put back in its place when the tenant leaves. And if the landlord is unwilling or unable to take care of them, the tenant will have to store them in a place where they will not be damaged.
The ALUR Law now requires establishing an accurate inventory of furniture and its condition when entering and leaving the tenant (even if the furniture is stored elsewhere by the tenant ). This document, concluded and signed by both parties, will serve as evidence in case of the disappearance of objects or possible damage caused by the tenant, especially if the storage is carried out in a cellar (there are risks of theft, humidity, flooding, etc.).
Important Note: it is important for the owner to write an inventory indicating that the proposed furniture has been removed at the request of the tenant and that this document is signed by the tenant.