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When is a rental lease valid?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: When the tenant and the owner both sign it. A lease is valid only if the tenant and the owner both sign it. It is a written contract. It is the only document that allows you to live in the home.
Sources: Sheet “Les démarches relatives au logement (1/2)” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ When it is only agreed by word of mouth between themQuand il est seulement dit à l'oralA lease is a written contract: a spoken promise is not enough.
- ✗ When only the owner signs itQuand il est signé seulement par le propriétaire du logementThe tenant must sign it too.
- ✓ When the tenant and the owner both sign itQuand il est signé par le locataire et le propriétaireCorrect answer. A lease is valid only if the tenant and the owner both sign it. It is a written contract. It is the only document that allows you to live in the home.
- ✗ When the first rent is paid in cashQuand le premier loyer est payé en espècesPaying does not make the lease valid: both signatures are needed.
What the source says
« Le bail est le seul document qui autorise à vivre dans un logement : il est valide seulement s'il est signé par le locataire et le propriétaire. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Quand un bail de location est-il valide ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the resident card (CR). The Ministry's wording: “Un bail locatif est valide s'il est :”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Les démarches relatives au logement (1/2)” (French).
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