Updated 15 October 2026

Phrasebook

Renting a flat in French: viewing, rent, charges, deposit and lease

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 15 October 2026 · About the library

Use 26 French rental phrases across four scenes: view a flat, check the total rent, ask about the deposit and clarify the lease before signing.

B1
26 phrases
4 situations
Learn this in the B1 notebook →

In short

Ask Quel est le loyer, charges comprises ? for the total monthly amount, then Que comprennent les charges ? for the breakdown. For the security deposit, say le dépôt de garantie. Before signing, ask Pourriez-vous m’envoyer le projet de bail ? to read the proposed lease.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

An agent shows a prospective tenant an attractive unfurnished French apartment with parquet flooring and a window overlooking a peaceful courtyard. — The tenant asks to visiter l’appartement. Illustration: Atelier

Arriving and looking around

You are viewing a two-room flat. Ask what a room faces and whether it is furnished.

YouBonjour, j’ai rendez-vous pour visiter l’appartement.Hello, I have an appointment to view the flat.

AgentBonjour, entrez. Nous allons commencer par le séjour.Hello, come in. We’ll start with the living room.

YouEst-ce que l’appartement est loué meublé ou vide ?Is the flat let furnished or unfurnished?

AgentIl est loué vide. La cuisine est équipée d’un four et de plaques de cuisson.It’s let unfurnished. The kitchen has an oven and a hob.

YouLa chambre donne sur la rue ou sur la cour ?Does the bedroom face the street or the courtyard?

AgentElle donne sur la cour. Vous pouvez ouvrir la fenêtre.It faces the courtyard. You can open the window.

Rent and monthly charges

Keep the total and its components separate: €740 rent plus €60 charges.

YouQuel est le loyer mensuel hors charges ?What is the monthly rent excluding charges?

AgentLe loyer est de sept cent quarante euros, plus soixante euros de charges.The rent is €740, plus €60 in charges.

YouCela fait donc huit cents euros par mois, charges comprises ?So that’s €800 a month including charges?

AgentOui, c’est bien cela.Yes, that’s right.

YouQue comprennent les charges ? Le chauffage est-il inclus ?What do the charges cover? Is heating included?

AgentElles comprennent l’eau froide et l’entretien des parties communes. Le chauffage et l’électricité sont à votre charge.They cover cold water and maintenance of the communal areas. You pay for heating and electricity separately.

The deposit and application

Name the deposit directly, then ask about the documents needed for this application.

YouQuel est le montant du dépôt de garantie ?How much is the security deposit?

AgentLe dépôt demandé est de sept cent quarante euros.The requested deposit is €740.

YouÀ quel moment faut-il le verser ?When does it need to be paid?

AgentLe paiement est prévu à la signature du bail.Payment is scheduled for when the lease is signed.

YouQuels documents dois-je fournir pour mon dossier ?Which documents do I need to provide for my application?

AgentJe vais vous envoyer la liste par courriel.I’ll email you the list.

Reading the lease and confirming the next step

Ask about the terms of this proposed lease and read them before agreeing.

YouQuelle est la durée du bail proposé ?What is the term of the proposed lease?

AgentLe bail proposé est de trois ans.The proposed lease is for three years.

YouQuel serait le délai de préavis si je souhaitais partir ?What would the notice period be if I wanted to leave?

AgentNous allons regarder ensemble la clause sur le préavis.We’ll look at the notice clause together.

YouPourriez-vous m’envoyer le projet de bail pour que je puisse le lire ?Could you send me the draft lease so that I can read it?

AgentBien sûr. Je vous l’envoie cet après-midi.Of course. I’ll send it this afternoon.

YouMerci. Je vous recontacte après l’avoir lu.Thank you. I’ll get back to you after reading it.

AgentTrès bien. Vous avez mes coordonnées sur la fiche.Very good. My contact details are on the information sheet.

What do loyer, charges, caution and bail mean?

Listen for the precise noun

French	Meaning	Useful phrase
le loyer	rent	le loyer hors charges
les charges	service costs or included bills	Les charges sont comprises.
le dépôt de garantie	security deposit	verser le dépôt de garantie
le garant	person who guarantees payment	Avez-vous un garant ?
le bail	lease	signer le bail
le préavis	notice; notice period	le délai de préavis

Charges comprises says that charges are included in a quoted amount; ask which costs the charges cover. À votre charge means you pay that cost yourself. The word caution can refer to a guarantee, a guarantor or, in everyday speech, a deposit. Using dépôt de garantie for the sum and garant for the person makes your question precise.

Si j’ai bien compris, l’eau froide est comprise, mais je paie le chauffage séparément.

If I’ve understood correctly, cold water is included, but I pay for heating separately.