Here’s something that surprised us when we first rented out our own studio: in France, “furnished” isn’t a marketing word, it’s a legal category with an actual checklist attached. Landlords who don’t meet it can find their lease reclassified as unfurnished, with a different deposit, a different notice period, and different tax rules. That single fact changes how we’d answer almost every question we get about furnished versus unfurnished rentals.
A furnished apartment in France must legally include a defined list of items (bedding, cooking equipment, fridge, and more) and comes with a shorter one-year lease and a higher deposit cap; an unfurnished apartment gives you a blank space, a longer three-year lease, and a lower deposit, but you supply everything yourself. Which one suits you depends far more on how long you’re staying than on taste.
FAQ: Furnished vs. Unfurnished Rental Apartments
What is the main legal difference between a furnished and an unfurnished rental in France?
A furnished lease (bail meublé) must include a legally defined list of furniture and equipment set by decree, runs for one year by default, and allows a deposit of up to two months’ rent. An unfurnished lease (bail vide) runs three years by default, caps the deposit at one month, and leaves you to bring your own furniture.
When does a furnished apartment make more sense?
For a posting under two years, a first move to the Riviera before you know the area, or anyone who simply doesn’t want to buy and then resell furniture, a furnished flat saves time and upfront cost, even if the monthly rent runs higher.
What are the real advantages of choosing unfurnished?
Lower monthly rent, a lower deposit, a three-year lease that gives you more stability, and full freedom to furnish the place exactly the way you want. It suits anyone planning to stay put for a while.
Can a landlord call an apartment “furnished” without meeting the legal list?
Not legally. If the mandatory items are missing, a tenant or a judge can have the lease reclassified as unfurnished, which changes the deposit cap, the lease length, and how the rental income is taxed for the landlord.
What “furnished” legally means in France
Since the loi ALUR, décret n° 2015-981 spells out exactly what a furnished apartment must contain the day you get the keys, no exceptions. That includes complete bedding with a duvet or blanket, shutters or curtains in every bedroom, hobs for cooking, an oven or at least a microwave, a fridge with a freezer compartment kept below -6°C, enough dishes and cooking utensils for daily meals, and basic cleaning equipment.
We learned this the practical way when we first furnished our studio to rent it out: it’s tempting to think a bed and a table are “furnished enough,” but the decree is specific, and missing even one category can be used to argue the flat wasn’t truly furnished at all.
Furnished rentals: what you gain and what you give up
A furnished apartment gets you moved in within a day. Beds, kitchen equipment and basic furniture are already there, which matters enormously if you’re relocating from another country or don’t want to commit to buying furniture you might not keep.
- You gain: a fast move-in, a shorter one-year commitment, no furniture to sell later.
- You give up: a higher monthly rent, a deposit that can reach two months instead of one, and decor that may not be to your taste at all.
There’s also a practical downside worth naming honestly: anything you damage belongs to the landlord, not to you, and disputes over wear and tear on furniture are a common source of friction at the état des lieux de sortie. Photographing the condition of every listed item at move-in, not just the walls, is one habit we now insist on with every tenant, precisely because furniture disputes are so much harder to settle after the fact than a mark on paint.
Unfurnished rentals: slower to set up, cheaper to keep
An unfurnished flat is a blank canvas. You bring your own furniture, which costs more time and money on day one but usually saves money every month after that, since unfurnished rents tend to sit noticeably below furnished ones for a comparable flat.
- You gain: lower rent, a lower deposit, a three-year lease that suits anyone settling in for real.
- You give up: the convenience of a ready-made home, and the time needed to buy, deliver and set up everything yourself.
| Criteria | Furnished (bail meublé) | Unfurnished (bail vide) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard lease length | 1 year (9 months for students) | 3 years |
| Deposit cap | 2 months’ rent excl. charges | 1 month’s rent excl. charges |
| Tenant’s notice period | 1 month | 3 months (1 in a zone tendue) |
Ceilings set by the loi du 6 juillet 1989 and the loi ALUR, current as of 2025-2026.
How to actually decide
We tell people to answer three questions honestly before choosing: how long do you plan to stay, do you already own furniture worth moving, and how much time do you realistically have to set up a home from scratch? A one-year contract abroad points toward furnished almost every time. A move you intend to settle into for years usually pays for itself faster unfurnished, once you spread the furniture cost over that longer stay.
This isn’t professional advice, just what renting and letting our own place taught us. If your situation is unusual, for instance a lease that’s furnished on paper but missing several items from the legal list, a quick question to ANIL or a local notaire is worth more than any guide, including this one.
Whichever type you choose, both parties still have obligations toward each other once the lease is signed. We cover the landlord’s side of that relationship in our article on landlord and tenant obligations and rights, which pairs naturally with this one.
Published July 2026.