Alexis Goldberg of the FranceBuyingGuide.com tells us about the rental market in France, how much it is likely to cost you and the procedures involved in renting a property. If you have any questions for Alexis on renting homes in France, email france@overseasguidescompany.com

Why rent?

Renting a home long term in France can be an excellent idea if you are not yet 100% committed to buying there. There is a wide choice of rentals in most areas and often people choose to rent on a permanent basis rather than buy, especially in cities such as Paris or Lyon.

What can I expect to pay?

France is a huge country and rental costs vary greatly. A small unfurnished apartment in Paris could cost around €1,000 per calendar month. Other cities will have decent apartments for around €800 per calendar month and naturally, the further away from the centre of the city you are the cheaper the rent will be. Renting is cheaper in rural areas but prices will vary greatly depending on what time of year it is, for example, a large “maison de maître” or family home in rural France with outside space and a swimming pool may be as much as €3,000 during July and August but less than half this amount during the winter months.

What are mine and the landlords obligations?

The landlord must provide a property of decent quality with proper drainage, utility services and equipment. When you are looking for a place to rent take care to look at what is included. For example, a “cuisine amenagee” means that all kitchen equipment will be provided. You might also want to check that TV, internet and bed linen is provided. Whether or not these things are included should be outlined in your rental contract.

Tenants must have insurance in place before signing the contract and are liable for the “taxe d’habitation” which is a local housing tax. This tax is due on January 1 each year and is there to cover such things as street cleaning, lighting and local services. Tenants must also pay the rent on the agreed dates, arrange for payment of utility charges and take care of any breakages or damage. Subletting is not normally permitted without the landlord’s permission.

What do I need to provide in order to rent?

On applying for a rental lease you will need to supply proof of income and possibly a guarantor to stand as a surety. Since February 2008 the amount of refundable deposit has been reduced from two months to one months rent which is paid up front on signing the lease, along with the first month’s rent. At the end of the tenancy the landlord has up to two months to refund the deposit and may of course deduct whatever is required for repairs.

Who do I go to to get some help?

It is advisable to rent through a letting agency who will offer you some legal protection should anything go wrong and draw up a tenancy agreement which must be adhered to.

Top tip?

Renting for a whole year in France will give you a very good idea of life in France since many rural areas have a very different atmosphere in the winter and this will help you to work out if living there all year round is really going to suit you. Another option could be to spend a couple of months at a time in different rental properties around the country to see where your favourite place is.

For details of properties for sale in France, visit the French listings on Rightmove Overseas. One way to save money when buying in France, or moving there, is to use a currency specialist when transferring your pounds into euros to complete the purchase of your property. For more information on this, contact Smart Currency Exchange.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in France, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘France Property Buying Guide’