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19. Termination of Tenancy - French Rental Property

19.2. Termination by Tenant

The tenant may terminate the tenancy at any time and for any reason.

The minimum notice period will depend on the type of letting:

Unfurnished - Three month's notice
Furnished - One month's notice

The period of three months notice may be reduced to one month in the following circumstances:

Serious illness of tenant of at least 60 years of age justifying change of accommodation;
If the tenant (involuntarily) loses their job, obtains their first job, finds a new job following unemployment, or if they transfer their employment elsewhere (mutation professionnelle);
Where the tenant is in receipt of social security supplementary benefits (Revenu de Solidarité Active - RSA)
If the property is located in an area of housing stress, called a zone tendue. See Simulateur.

The notice period cannot be reduced if the tenant either resigns, retires from employment, or merely changes their job.

Notice should be given by record delivery letter or by a huissier.

If the tenant does not comply with the notice period the landlord is entitled to make a legal claim for the unpaid period, provided the property remains unlet during the period.

The rent continues to be payable during the period of the notice.

Once the tenant has given notice in the proper manner, then they cannot later change their mind - it is irreversible.

Needless to say there is nothing to stop landlord and tenant coming to their own agreement about the length of the notice period.

A vacating tenant is obliged to grant a landlord reasonable access to the property for visiting by prospective new tenants or purchasers.

Where a tenant dies the tenancy is automatically transferred to their spouse or their civil partner, or cohabitee, provided in the later two cases they were co-tenants. All of them can terminate the tenancy.

These same persons also have a right to the tenancy in the event it is abandoned by the tenant.

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