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Housing procedures (1/2)
This sheet presents the people involved in finding housing. It explains the rights and obligations of the owner and the obligations of the tenant.
Key points of the sheet
- For private housing, look at the adverts of estate agencies or specialised websites. You must notably show an identity document, proof of income and your previous rent receipts.
- For social housing, apply online on the website demande-logement-social.gouv.fr. You must notably show an identity document, a tax notice and proof of your family situation.
- The lease (bail) is a written contract between the landlord and the tenant. The landlord rents the property at an amount fixed in advance, according to the size of the home. The tenant pays the rent and the charges and respects certain obligations.
- The lease is the only document that allows you to live in a home. It is valid only if the tenant and the owner sign it.
- The rental contract can end at the end of its set duration. It can also be stopped earlier by the landlord, under certain conditions.
- The tenant can leave at any time, with a notice period of 3 months. The notice is 1 month under certain conditions, for example if the home is furnished.
Words to know
- lease (bail)
- It is the written contract between the landlord and the tenant, the only document that allows you to live in a home.
- landlord (bailleur)
- It is most often the owner; he rents the property at an amount fixed in advance, according to the size of the home.
- tenant (locataire)
- He agrees to pay the rent and the charges and to respect certain obligations.
- social housing (logement social)
- To get it, you apply online on the website demande-logement-social.gouv.fr.
- notice period (délai de préavis)
- It is the minimum time between the notification and the actual end of the contract: 3 months, or 1 month under certain conditions.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Who is most often the landlord?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui est le plus souvent le bailleur ?
The lease is signed between the landlord, most often the owner, and the tenant.
What is the tenant's notice period for a furnished home?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel est le préavis du locataire pour un logement meublé ?
The notice period is 3 months, but it is 1 month if the home is furnished.
Where do you apply for social housing?
In French, the language of the exam: Où faire une demande de logement social ?
For social housing, you apply online on the website demande-logement-social.gouv.fr.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
More in this topic (Administrative procedures)
Source
Sheet “Les démarches relatives au logement (1/2)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.