Rent in France: mandatory documents to provide

When renting a property in France, there are mandatory documents to provide. Here is a list of the main documents required for residential rental:

Lease Agreement: A written contract detailing the terms of the rental, including duration, rent, and conditions.
Inventory of Fixtures (État des Lieux): A document describing the condition of the property at the tenant's move-in and move-out, including any defects or damages.
Technical Diagnostic File (Dossier de Diagnostic Technique - DDT): It includes several mandatory diagnostics, such as the Energy Performance Certificate (Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique - DPE), the lead exposure risk assessment (Constat de Risque d'Exposition au Plomb - CREP), and others depending on the nature and age of the property.
Home Insurance Certificate (Attestation d'Assurance Habitation): The tenant must provide proof of liability insurance.
The Last Three Rent Receipts: Often required to assess the tenant's solvency.
Proofs of Identity and Income: The landlord may request documents such as pay stubs, tax notices, or bank statements to assess the tenant's financial capacity.
Security Deposit: Usually equivalent to one month's rent, it is paid by the tenant and must be held in a specific bank account.
Certificate of the Last Rent Payment for the Previous Residence: The tenant may be required to provide this proof of rent payment.
Solidarity Guarantee: If the tenant has a guarantor, the guarantor will need to provide similar documents to those of the tenant to assess their solvency.
Condominium Rules: If the apartment is in a condominium building, it may be requested to understand the specific rules of the condominium.

Please note that requirements can vary from one rental to another and may depend on the landlord's policy or the management of the rental by a real estate agency. It is essential to verify the details with the landlord or property manager before signing a lease agreement in France.