Tenant notice period in France: 1 or 3 months?
Updated 9 October 2026 · By the Loyski team
A tenant in France can leave at any time, without giving a reason, as long as they give notice: 3 months for an unfurnished let (1 month in some cases), 1 month for a furnished let. The notice starts when the landlord receives the letter, and rent is due until it ends. Here are the rules and how to work out the end date.
Notice period: one or three months?
| Type of let | Tenant's notice | Landlord's notice |
|---|---|---|
| Unfurnished (main residence) | 3 months, or 1 month in the cases set by law | 6 months before the lease ends, for a specific reason |
| Furnished | 1 month, always | 3 months before the lease ends, for a specific reason |
The tenant can leave at any time, not only at the end of the lease. The landlord can only end the lease at its expiry date, and only to sell, to move in (or house a close relative), or for a legitimate and serious reason such as repeated arrears.
When notice drops to one month (unfurnished lets)
Under article 15 of the law of 6 July 1989, notice is one month when:
- the property is in a zone tendue, a high-demand area listed by decree (including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse, Nice and their surroundings);
- the tenant gets a first job, is transferred, loses their job or finds a new one after losing it;
- their health, confirmed by a medical certificate, requires a move;
- they receive RSA or AAH benefits;
- they are allocated social housing;
- they have a protection order or their partner was convicted of violence against them.
The tenant must state the reason in the letter and attach proof. Otherwise notice stays at three months. In a zone tendue, mentioning the property's location is enough.
How notice must be served
Three methods are valid: registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (or registered electronic letter), service by a commissaire de justice, or hand delivery against a signed receipt. A plain email, a text message or a phone call is not enough, even if the landlord acknowledges it. If several tenants share the lease and all leave, each must sign the notice (or send their own).
Working out the end of the notice period
The period runs from the day the landlord receives the letter, not the day it was sent. It ends on the same date one or three months later, at midnight. Service-public.fr's example: notice received on 5 September, one-month notice until 5 October at midnight.
Example for an unfurnished let outside a zone tendue: letter received on 18 March, three-month notice until 18 June. The tenant owes April and May in full, and 18 days out of 30 for June. With rent of €750 including charges: 750 ÷ 30 × 18 = €450 for June. Our notice period calculator does it for you.
Rent during the notice period
Rent and charges are due until the notice ends, even if the tenant returns the keys earlier. The only exception: a new tenant moves in before the end, with your agreement. The tenant then leaves after the move-out inventory, and you return the security deposit within one month if the move-out inventory matches the move-in one, two months otherwise.
What the landlord should do on receiving notice
- Write down the date of receipt: it sets the end date.
- Check the period claimed, and the proof if it's a shortened notice.
- Reply in writing to confirm the end date and suggest a time for the move-out inventory.
- Prepare the prorated last rent and the next let (listing, viewings: the lease can allow viewings during the notice, up to two hours on working days).
In Loyski, you enter the lease end date: the last rent is prorated, receipt included.
Rent tracked, receipts sent, IRL rent increases and charges at the right time. Free for one property.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a tenant's notice period in France?
Three months for an unfurnished let, cut to one month in high-demand areas (zone tendue) and in some situations (job transfer, job loss, first job, health, RSA or AAH benefits, social housing, domestic violence). One month for a furnished let, with no conditions.
Can a tenant give notice by email?
No. Notice must be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, served by a commissaire de justice (bailiff) or handed over against a signed receipt. A registered electronic letter is also valid.
When does the notice period start?
On the day the landlord receives the registered letter, the day it is served by a commissaire de justice, or the day it is handed over. It ends on the same day of the month, one or three months later, at midnight.
Does the tenant pay rent until the end of the notice period?
Yes, rent and charges are due until the notice ends, even if the keys are returned earlier. The only exception is a new tenant moving in sooner with the landlord's agreement. The last month is then prorated to the day.
Can the landlord refuse a one-month notice?
The landlord can't refuse the notice itself, but can dispute the shorter period if the tenant didn't state the reason in the letter or didn't attach proof (except in a zone tendue, where stating it is enough). The notice is then three months.
Sources
- French law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989, articles 15 and 25-8 (Légifrance)
- Service-public.fr: tenant's notice and how to serve it
- Service-public.fr: landlord's notice
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.