What are the special features of renting a furnished apartment?
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CONTEXT : You are an owner and you wish to opt for furnished rental: what are the specificities of this type of rental? What are your homework? What are the advantages for the tenant and for you?

The following article answers your questions.

ADVICE :

THE OWNER MUST MAKE AVAILABLE TO HIS TENANT A MINIMUM OF EQUIPMENT LISTED IN AN OFFICIAL LIST

Since the promulgation of the Alur Law (March 24, 2014), the rental furnished is defined precisely as:

 "Decent accommodation equipped with enough furniture and of sufficient quality to allow the tenant to sleep, eat and live there decently with regard to the demands of life current "  and occupied as primary residence.

Since August 1, 2015, you as lessor and your tenant must sign a standard contract, providing in particular the essential clauses, the characteristics of the accommodation, the amount of the rent, the recoverable charges, the terms of payment, an inventory of fixtures, etc.

LIST OF EQUIPMENT

The precise list of equipment to be supplied, eleven in number, is set by the Decree of July 31 2015 applicable since September 1, 2015:

  • bedding including duvet or blanket;
  • a device for blocking out windows in rooms intended to be used as bedrooms;
  • cooking plates;
  • an oven or microwave;
  • a refrigerator and a freezer or, at least, a refrigerator with a compartment providing a temperature of minus or equal to minus 6 ° C;
  • crockery needed for meals;
  • kitchen utensils;
  • a table and seats;
  • storage shelves;
  • lights;
  • household maintenance equipment adapted to the characteristics of the accommodation.

This enumeration is minimal. Nothing prevents you from adding other elements and services.

Warning : if one of these eleven elements is not offered, the rental furnished is likely to be reclassified as an empty rental, with all the consequences that this implies: lower rent, change in taxation, etc.

POINTS IN COMMON WITH VACUUM RENTALS 

Since the Alur law, the rental furnished occupied as a main residence is governed by the law of July 6, 1989. This text, which generally defines the rights and duties of the lessor and the tenant, now applies to both empty rental and rental furnished, especially for :

  • the inventory;
  • the real estate diagnoses to be provided;
  • the revision or indexation of the rent;
  • the modalities of recovery of the accommodation rented for sale or for occupation;
  • the drafting of a standard contract, etc.
  • As in bare rental, the owner of a furniture can insure against unpaid rents

THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE CONTRACT

  • The lease is shorter: Its duration is limited to one year, or nine months for a student tenant. It is renewed annually by tacit agreement.
  • The security deposit is higher:This amount takes into account the presence of furniture in the accommodation and valuable equipment made available to the tenant. Paid by the latter at the start of the rental, the deposit amounts to two months' rent excluding charges (against one month in empty rental).
  • The notice is reduced:The tenant can give you his leave at any time, provided that he warns you one month before his departure. On your side, as a lessor you must notify your lessee at least three months before the end of the lease and justify any "leave for recovery".

The rental charges are “real” or fixed: Sspecified in the lease, they may, as desired, be the subject of provisions during the rental, then be readjusted the following year, or be fixed and paid for during the effective duration of the rental. This last option avoids the owner having to approach the tenant again to adjust the payment when the latter may have already left the premises.

A FLEXIBLE AND PROFITABLE SOLUTION

FOR THE TENANT:

These are small areas, often sought after by young students or working people (on fixed-term contracts, in training, etc.), practical for settling quickly in accommodation, as a main residence, and '' ready to use '' '.

FOR THE LESSOR:

This type of rental is flexible, as it allows you to recover the accommodation within one year. It is also a profitable formula, the rent of a furniture being 20 % to 30 % higher than for the same empty rented accommodation. So, a good way to boost a rental yield.

MOST !!!

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE STUDENT FURNITURE LEASE

As its name suggests, the furnished student lease is a rental that must meet the same conditions as the others, but only for students.

The furnished student lease differs from an ordinary furnished lease by:

  • a minimum rental period reduced to nine months
  • the absence of tacit renewal of the lease upon expiry thereof.
    The student tenant and the owner must therefore sign a lease again if they want to continue renting under the same conditions.