Furnished rentals: how to end a contract

Furnished rentals are attractive for their flexibility and convenience. But when it comes to ending the contract, specific rules apply. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, terminating a furnished rental lease must comply with legal notice periods, formal requirements, and sometimes specific conditions. This practical guide explains the notice periods, grounds for termination, and the steps to follow, and provides ready-to-use letter templates.

1. Notice periods to observe

For both landlord and tenant, the notice rules for ending a furnished rental depend on the type of lease signed.

Primary residence (standard): by law, the lease runs for one year and is tacitly renewed at each annual term date. The tenant may terminate at any time with one month’s notice (Article 25-8 of the Law of 6 July 1989). The landlord may give notice only at the term date, with three months’ notice and a valid reason (taking the property back to live in it or house a relative, sale, or a legitimate and serious reason).

Primary residence – student: the lease is limited to 9 months, with no tacit renewal (Article 25-7 of the Law of 6 July 1989). In this case, the student tenant does not need to send notice at the end of the lease. If they wish to terminate before the end date, they may do so at any time with one month’s notice. The landlord may not give notice before the term.

Mobility lease: lasting from 1 to 10 months, this furnished rental contract (defined under the ALUR law) may be renewed once provided the total duration does not exceed 10 months. As with the student lease, only the tenant may terminate at any time with one month’s notice. For more details on this type of contract, see our dedicated article on the topic.

Secondary residence / Company lease: these rentals are governed by the Civil Code (not the 1989 law) and run from a fixed start to a fixed end date. If the tenant wishes to leave before the scheduled end, rent remains due until the term, unless there is an amicable agreement with the landlord or the property is quickly re-let. The landlord may agree to end the lease early if a new occupant is found before the planned date. To address early departure requests, the landlord may freely set a notice period in the contract. Failing that, customary rental practice applies—generally one to three months according to case law.

Anticipating the end of a lease is also an opportunity for landlords to prepare the re-letting of their property. Our advisors canassist you in quickly finding a new tenant.

2. Reasons for ending a furnished lease

Ending by the tenant

The tenant enjoys broad freedom: they may end the lease without a particular reason, provided they observe the notice period. The most common situations are:

moving for personal or professional reasons,
job transfer,
continuing studies in another city for a student,
seeking more suitable housing.

Rent must continue to be paid until the end of the notice period. In the event of a serious breach by the landlord (substandard housing, lack of maintenance), the tenant may seek judicial termination, which takes effect on the date set by the judge.

Ending by the landlord

The landlord has less flexibility. They may give notice only for the following reasons:

Reclaiming the apartment to live in it themselves or house a relative,
Sale of the property (the tenant has a two-month right of first refusal, provided by Articles 15 et seq. of the Law of 6 July 1989),
Legitimate and serious reason: unpaid rent, neighborhood disturbances, failure to meet obligations.

In all cases, the landlord must give a minimum three-month notice and notify their decision before the lease term date by a reasoned letter.

3. Practical steps to end a furnished lease

Forme du congé

Whether initiated by the landlord or the tenant, termination must be notified by:

registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt,
or by a judicial officer’s act (formerly a bailiff),
or by hand delivery against a signed receipt.

Sending a registered letter remains the safest method. The notice period starts running on the date the notification is received.

Move-out inspection (état des lieux de sortie)

This marks the effective end of the tenancy. The inspection is essential because it determines the return of the security deposit (Article 22 of the Law of 6 July 1989). It must be carried out in the presence of each concerned party—the landlord (or manager) and the tenant—to avoid later disputes.

Handling the inspection, re-letting quickly, securing the deposit—these are time-consuming steps for a private landlord. Lodgis manages your property and streamlines the process:

Rental Management

Security deposit

The landlord has two months to return the funds, unless damages are recorded. For more details, see our article: Why have an inventory and a check-in/out inspection?

4. Termination letter templates

Drafting a furnished lease termination letter requires a few simple rules. The document must state the address of the property, the planned end date of the tenancy, and take into account the applicable notice period. Depending on the situation, the content differs: the tenant informs you of their departure and indicates the desired date, while the landlord must justify the notice (sale, taking the property back, or a legitimate and serious reason).

To help you, we provide a template for the tenant and another for the landlord. Customize them to your contract and send by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt or deliver by hand against a signed receipt. This precaution secures the process and helps avoid disputes.

Termination letters templates

Standard notice letter by the landlord (reclaiming the property)

[Landlord first and last name] [Address]

[Tenant’s name] [Address of the rented property]

Place, date

Subject: Notice to reclaim the property

Dear Sir or Madam,

In accordance with the legal provisions, I hereby inform you of my decision not to renew the furnished lease for the property located at [full address].

This notice is given because I wish to reclaim the property to occupy it as my primary residence.

The lease will therefore end on [end date, observing the 3-month notice period].

Yours faithfully,

[Signature]

Standard termination letter by the tenant

[First and last name] [Address]

[Landlord’s / agency’s name] [Address]

Place, date

Subject: Termination of my furnished rental lease

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hereby inform you of my decision to terminate the furnished rental lease for the property located at [full address].

In accordance with the law, I will observe one month’s notice from receipt of this letter.

I remain at your disposal to arrange an appointment for the move-out inspection and key handover.

Yours faithfully,

[Signature]

5. FAQ – Terminating a furnished lease

How do you terminate a furnished lease if the tenant stops paying rent ?
In the event of unpaid rent, the landlord may seek termination for a legitimate and serious reason after a formal notice and, if needed, by taking the matter to court.

Can the landlord give notice if selling the property ?
Yes, but they must give 3 months’ notice before the lease end date (or anniversary date) and inform the tenant of their statutory right of first refusal, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.

Must notice be served on each co-tenant or spouse ?
Yes, each signatory to the lease must individually receive notice by letter or by hand delivery.

What if the security deposit is not returned two months after the move-out inspection ?
The tenant may issue a formal notice to the landlord, then bring the matter to court to obtain payment. In such cases, the procedure may delay the effective refund date.

Terminating a furnished rental lease is governed by clear rules that vary according to the type of contract (fixed-term or open-ended) and the situation. Observing notice periods, the proper form of notice, the contractual term date, and legal obligations helps secure the process and avoid disputes. Whether for a primary residence or a secondary home, termination must be handled rigorously. In the event of repossession or sale, the landlord must comply with the rules set by the legislation and the applicable provisions.