Giving Notice on a Paris Rental: One Month, Not Three. How to Do It Right

Your notice period: the first step towards your next home

Once you have found your next apartment, it is tempting to sign quickly. But notice given the wrong way can leave you paying two rents for two extra months. At APPARTE, we always align the search with the end of your notice period: it sets the timetable for the whole assignment.

In Paris, the notice period is one month

For an unfurnished rental, the standard legal notice is three months. It drops to one month when the property is in a high-demand area (zone tendue), which covers Paris and the inner suburbs. For a furnished rental, notice is always one month, with no reason required.

The shorter notice also applies anywhere in France in case of a job transfer, a first job, job loss or a new job after job loss, allocation of social housing, or for recipients of the RSA or AAH benefits. To check a town, the official Service Public "zones tendues" simulator gives you the answer in seconds.

The notice letter: what it must include

• The address of the property and the date of the letter.
• A reference to the reduced notice: in a high-demand area, state that the property is in a zone tendue and that you are entitled to one month's notice. Without it, the landlord may claim three months.
• For any other reason (job transfer, job loss…), the reason and its supporting document.
• Your signature, and that of every co-tenant who is leaving.

How to send it

Three methods are valid: a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, a bailiff's notice (commissaire de justice), or hand delivery against a signature or receipt. A registered e-mail only works if your landlord has agreed to it. A plain e-mail is not valid notice.

The period starts when the landlord receives the letter, not when you send it. Weekends and public holidays count. If you post your letter on the 28th, it may only arrive on the 30th: shift your timetable accordingly.

During the notice period

Rent remains due until the last day, unless a new tenant moves in earlier with the landlord's agreement. The final month is paid pro rata. Note that the security deposit cannot be used to pay the last rents. Prepare your move-out too: our guide to the inventory and security deposit helps you get all of it back.

Lining up your move-out and move-in

One month is short to find a home in Paris. The right approach: prepare your application before giving notice, then start the active search straight away. If you are moving for work, our article on relocating to Paris and searching remotely sets out the timeline. And for an application ready on day one, follow our guide to a rock-solid rental application.

FAQ

The lease is in my name and my partner's: who has to sign?

Each co-tenant who leaves must give notice. If only one leaves, the other remains the tenant.

Can I leave before the end of the notice period?

Yes, but you still owe rent until the end of the period, unless the landlord agrees otherwise or a new tenant moves in.

Conclusion

Well-drafted notice means one month's rent saved and a timetable under control. Want to align your notice with an efficient search? Book an appointment with APPARTE: we plan it with you before you even send your letter.

This article provides general information that is up to date at the time of publication. For your specific situation, have your rights checked by a professional (ADIL, lawyer or notary).