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Know before you sign

The rules of renting in France, explained.

Long reads and short answers for both sides of the lease, whether you're renting or letting, kept current as the rules change.

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Quick answers

Short explainers, no scrolling required

Guarantees

Visale vs the guarantee companies: what's the difference?

  • Visale is the free, state-backed guarantee from Action Logement. From January 2026 it covers the first three years of the lease, within rent ceilings (~€1,940 / €1,575 / €1,365 by zone). You get a visa; the guarantee activates once the landlord subscribes on visale.fr.
  • GarantMe, Cautioneo and SmartGarant act as your guarantor for a fee, free to the landlord and roughly 3–4.5% of annual rent for you. They vet your file in hours and are far more flexible on non-CDI and foreign income. Cover and price vary, so it's worth comparing.
  • Whichever recognised guarantee you have, every landlord on Cajou accepts it. You don't need to chase one that fits, just to have one.

Leases & notice

Furnished or unfurnished changes everything

  • Notice to leave: 1 month furnished, 3 months unfurnished. The 3 months drops to 1 in a zone tendue, on job loss, a new job, or RSA.
  • Minimum term: 1 year furnished (9 months for a student lease) versus 3 years unfurnished when the landlord is an individual.
  • Furnished long-term leases are a normal, legitimate way to rent your main home, with their own (often more flexible) rules.

Money

Where your deposit really goes

  • France has no government deposit-protection scheme. The dépôt de garantie is paid directly to the landlord, who holds it and is personally liable to return it.
  • Caps: 1 month's rent unfurnished, up to 2 months furnished (excluding charges). Returned within 1 month of handing back the keys, or 2 months if there are justified, itemised deductions.
  • So you're trusting the landlord directly. That's exactly why identity verification and a clear record matter.

Rent control

What you can legally charge in Lyon

  • Lyon and Villeurbanne are under rent control (encadrement des loyers). Your rent can't exceed the loyer de référence majoré, a ceiling that shifts with the area, the building's age, the number of rooms, and whether it's furnished.
  • Go over it and you risk a formal notice, repaying the overcharge, and a fine of up to €5,000. Cajou computes the exact ceiling for your property and checks your asking rent against it.
  • You can charge above it only with a justified complément de loyer for a genuinely exceptional feature. We flag it, you confirm, and the pricing call stays yours.

Listing legally

The documents you need to let a home

  • A valid DPE (energy rating) is mandatory, and a G-rated home can no longer be newly let, with F-rated to follow in 2028. Cajou checks your rating against the ban before you publish.
  • The technical pack (DDT) depends on the building: an ERP risk report under 6 months old, plus lead (pre-1949), asbestos (pre-1997), and gas or electrical checks for installations over 15 years old.
  • You'll also need a compliant written lease, an état des lieux, and a furniture inventory for furnished lets. We prompt you for exactly what applies.

Myth-busting

Assumptions that cost newcomers money

  • “I'll pay a year upfront.” A landlord can't demand rent far in advance; pay more than two months ahead and they legally can't take a deposit at all. It rarely helps, and can look like a red flag.
  • “More deposit = stronger application.” No. The cap is the cap.
  • “A home-country guarantor or bank statement will do.” Landlords want a French-recognised guarantee: Visale, a guarantee company (GarantMe, Cautioneo, SmartGarant), or a personal French guarantor.

Cajou's guidance is general information, not legal advice. Rules summarised here are current as of 2026 and maintained as they change; always check your specific lease and the official sources before you sign.