Student Housing Agreement (France)
A France-specific furnished student lease built around the 9-month non-renewable student lease (bail étudiant meublé) under the Loi du 6 juillet 1989. Covers guarantor (caution), deposit, house rules and joint tenants.
What's included
- 9-month non-renewable furnished student lease structure (bail étudiant)
- Deposit clause capped at 2 months' rent excluding charges
- Guarantor / acte de cautionnement and Visale reference
- Academic-year and semester term options
- House rules, noise and behaviour clause
- Vacation-period occupancy and belongings clause
- Joint-tenant and colocation solidarity option
- Inventory (état des lieux) and deposit-return timeline
- Signature block for tenant, guarantor and landlord
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🇫🇷 Local law notes — France
Furnished student lettings fall under the Loi n° 89-462 du 6 juillet 1989, which sets a 9-month non-renewable student lease and caps the furnished deposit at two months' rent excluding charges (one month if unfurnished). Tenant notice for furnished lettings is one month. Guarantees are commonly required and can be met by a private acte de cautionnement or the free Visale scheme (Action Logement); housing aid (APL/ALS) is administered by CAF. The deposit must be returned within one to two months of departure, with a 10% monthly penalty for delay.
Inside the document
1. Parties and Property
This furnished student lease (bail étudiant meublé) is made between the landlord (bailleur) and the student tenant (locataire), who confirms enrolment at a named educational establishment. It identifies the address, the private room or unit let, and any shared facilities, and lists the furniture and equipment provided (the 'inventory').
2. Nature and Term
The agreement is a furnished residential tenancy governed by the Loi n° 89-462 du 6 juillet 1989. The parties adopt the 9-month student lease, which is non-renewable and requires no landlord end-of-term notice, or a 1-year furnished lease renewable by tacit agreement. The chosen academic-year or semester dates are stated here.
3. Rent and Charges
Monthly rent (loyer) excluding charges is stated, together with recoverable charges (charges récupérables) billed as a provision with annual reconciliation or as a fixed package (forfait de charges). Payment date and method are set out. The student may be eligible for housing aid (APL/ALS) via CAF.
4. Deposit (Dépôt de Garantie)
A security deposit not exceeding two (2) months' rent excluding charges may be taken, in line with Article 25-6 of the Loi du 6 juillet 1989. It is returned within one month of key hand-back where the exit inventory matches entry, or within two months where deductions apply, with a 10%-per-month penalty for late return.
5. Guarantor (Caution)
Where required, a guarantor signs a separate act of surety (acte de cautionnement) accepting joint liability for rent, charges and repairs. Alternatively the tenant may present the free Visale guarantee (Action Logement). The guarantor's obligations and duration are stated in the surety document.
6. Inventory and Condition (État des Lieux)
A move-in and move-out inventory of condition and of furniture is signed by both parties. The tenant returns the accommodation and its contents in the same state, fair wear and tear excepted, and reports defects promptly.
7. Use, House Rules and Behaviour
The accommodation is for the tenant's personal residential and study use only. The tenant respects the building rules (règlement intérieur/de copropriété), keeps noise low especially at night, and must not sublet, run a business, or cause nuisance to neighbours or other residents.
8. Vacation Periods
The lease continues and rent remains payable during university holidays unless the parties agree otherwise. The tenant may leave belongings in the room during short vacations but the landlord is not liable for personal property; extended absence must be notified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a French landlord ask for more than two months' deposit for a furnished student flat?
No. For a furnished residence the deposit is capped at two months' rent excluding charges under Article 25-6 of the Loi du 6 juillet 1989; for unfurnished it is one month. Anything above the cap is unlawful.
Do I need a guarantor to rent as a student in France?
Landlords very often require one. You can provide a personal guarantor via an acte de cautionnement, or use the State-backed free Visale guarantee from Action Logement, which many landlords accept in place of a private guarantor.
How long is a French student lease and can I leave early?
The bail étudiant meublé runs 9 months and is non-renewable; a standard furnished lease runs 1 year. In either case you can give one month's notice to leave a furnished let at any time.