French rent receipt (quittance): rules and template
Updated 8 October 2026 · By the Loyski team
The quittance de loyer is the receipt proving that a tenant in France has paid their rent and charges. It's free, it's owed to any tenant who asks for it, and it must follow a few simple rules. Here they are, with a template you can fill in online.
What the law says
Article 21 of French law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989 sets four rules:
- the landlord must provide a receipt free of charge to any tenant who asks for it;
- the receipt shows the breakdown of the sums paid, separating rent and charges;
- no fee for handling the rent due notice or the receipt can be charged to the tenant;
- with the tenant's express consent, the receipt can be sent electronically (email, online space).
If the tenant pays only part of the rent, the landlord gives a receipt for that amount (reçu), not a quittance.
What goes on a rent receipt
The law doesn't impose a template, but a receipt the tenant can use (for the CAF, a rental or mortgage application) contains:
- the landlord's name and address (or their company's);
- the tenant name(s);
- the address of the let property;
- the period paid, for example "du 1er au 31 octobre 2026";
- the rent excluding charges, the advance or fixed charges, and the total;
- the payment date;
- the date and place it was issued, and the landlord's signature or name.
The classic French wording: « Je soussigné(e) [bailleur] déclare avoir reçu de [locataire] la somme de [montant] au titre du paiement du loyer et des charges pour la période du [date] au [date], et lui en donne quittance, sous réserve de tous mes droits. » (I, the undersigned landlord, confirm receipt of [amount] from [tenant] for rent and charges for the period [dates], and give them this receipt, without prejudice to my rights.)
The easiest way: our free rent receipt generator fills everything in and produces a French PDF ready to send.
Quittance, reçu and avis d'échéance
These three documents look alike but don't prove the same thing:
- the avis d'échéance (rent due notice) is sent before payment: it's a request and proves nothing (our guide);
- the reçu proves a partial payment;
- the quittance proves full payment for the period. It releases the tenant for that period.
So never hand over a quittance before you've received the money: it would count as proof of payment, even if the transfer never arrives.
Example
Marie's rent is €650, plus an €80 charge advance, due on the 1st of the month. She pays €730 on 3 October. Her landlord gives her a receipt for €730 for 1 to 31 October, showing €650 of rent and €80 of charges. In November she pays only €400: she gets a partial receipt for €400, stating that €330 is still due. When she pays the balance, the landlord gives her the November quittance.
Sending receipts by email
It's allowed and practical, on two conditions: have the tenant's consent (keep a written record, an email is enough) and send a document that can't be edited, as a PDF. The tenant can switch back to paper at any time.
To stop thinking about it, Loyski asks you every month whether the rent has arrived and emails the French receipt to your tenant as soon as you confirm. No more Word template to fill in.
Rent tracked, receipts sent, IRL rent increases and charges at the right time. Free for one property.
Frequently asked questions
Does a landlord in France have to provide a rent receipt?
Yes, as soon as the tenant asks, and free of charge (article 21 of the law of 6 July 1989). If the tenant doesn't ask, the landlord doesn't have to send one unprompted.
Can I refuse a receipt if the rent isn't paid in full?
Yes: the quittance proves the full payment for the period. For a partial payment, the landlord must give a receipt (reçu) stating the amount paid.
Is a receipt sent by email valid?
Yes, if the tenant has expressly agreed to receive it electronically. A PDF sent by email then has the same value as a paper document.
Can the tenant ask for old receipts?
Yes, for rent actually paid. Rent claims expire after 3 years in France: that's also how long tenants should keep their receipts.
Does the CAF ask for rent receipts?
Benefit agencies can ask for proof of rent payment, especially for housing benefit. The tenant can then ask the landlord for their receipts, which must be provided free of charge.
Should the receipt be in French?
For a home in France, yes, in practice: the tenant uses it with French bodies (CAF, banks, other landlords) that expect the usual French wording. Loyski's interface is in English, but the receipts it produces use the standard French wording.
This guide gives general information about French law, accurate on its publication date. It doesn't replace personal legal or tax advice: if in doubt, the ADIL of the département where the property is located advises landlords and tenants for free.