Notice to Sell in Furnished Rentals: Rules, Deadlines and Mistakes to Avoid

Ending a furnished rental to sell a property is a process governed by law. The landlord must comply with a number of obligations, particularly regarding notice periods, notification, and tenant rights. Any mistake in the procedure may result in the notice being invalid and delay the sale.

In this article, discover the key rules of notice to sell, the deadlines to respect, tenant rights, and the mistakes to avoid in order to secure your real estate project.

Notice to sell in furnished rentals: what does it mean?

Notice to sell is a legal reason allowing a property owner to terminate a furnished lease at its expiry in order to proceed with the sale of the property.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not possible to give notice at any time. The landlord must wait until the end date of the lease and comply with a strict notice period.

In furnished rentals, the lease term is generally one year (or 9 months for a student lease), which requires careful calendar management.

To better understand the specifics of different contracts, you can consult our complete guide on furnished rental leases.

What is the notice period for a notice to sell?

In furnished rentals, the notice period is:

• 3 months before the lease end date

This notice period starts from the receipt of the notification by the tenant.

Example

If your lease ends on September 30, your notice letter must be received by the tenant no later than June 30.

Warning: the date of receipt prevails, not the date of sending. Using a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (LRAR) is therefore essential.

To check official rules, you can also consult the dedicated page on the French public service website.

What are the landlord’s obligations?

To be valid, a notice to sell must comply with several legal obligations.

1. A real and legitimate reason

The reason must be clearly stated: in this case, the intention to sell the property.

2. Proper notification

The notice must be sent via:

• Registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (LRAR)
• Service by a bailiff
• Hand delivery with signature

3. Mandatory information

The notice letter must include:

• The reason for the sale
• The lease end date
• A reminder of the notice period

Even though the law is more flexible for furnished rentals than for unfurnished ones, providing clear documents helps avoid disputes.

Does the tenant have a right of first refusal?

Unlike unfurnished rentals, tenants in furnished rentals generally do not benefit from a right of first refusal.

This means the landlord can sell the property without offering a priority purchase option to the tenant.

However, certain specific situations may exist (particularly in cases of property transformation or specific legal arrangements). It is therefore recommended to verify the applicable legal framework.

Can the tenant challenge the notice to sell?

The tenant cannot oppose a notice to sell if it complies with the rules.

However, they can challenge the procedure if:

• The notice period is not respected
• The letter is incomplete or unclear
• The reason is fraudulent

In such cases, the notice may be declared invalid by a judge.

How to write a notice to sell letter?

Writing the notice letter is a key step. It must be clear, complete, and compliant with the law.

Simplified template

Subject: Notice to sell the furnished property

Dear Sir or Madam,

In accordance with the furnished rental agreement signed on [date], we hereby inform you of our decision to give notice to sell the property located at [address].

This notice will take effect on the lease end date, i.e. [date], in compliance with the 3-month legal notice period.

We kindly ask you to vacate the premises by this date.

Yours sincerely,

Please remember to keep a PDF version and proof of receipt.

Notice to sell and LMNP status: what are the consequences?

If you rent out your furnished property under the LMNP status (Non-Professional Furnished Rental), a notice to sell involves several implications to anticipate.

End of furnished rental activity

The sale of the property ends your furnished rental activity and therefore your LMNP status for this property. This includes stopping rent collection and rental management.

Tax implications

The sale may generate a capital gain. Unlike rental income taxed under the BIC regime, this capital gain falls under the individual tax regime.

You should therefore anticipate:

• the sale date
• the end of the lease contract
• the tax situation related to exiting the LMNP scheme

Proper management of this situation helps avoid mistakes and optimize your project.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Some common mistakes can jeopardize the sale:

• sending notice too late
• an incomplete letter
• an incorrect delivery method
• poor anticipation of the sale
• poor document management

What happens after the notice to sell?

Once the notice has been given and the property is vacated at the lease end date, the landlord enters the active sales phase.

Setting the right price

Setting a price consistent with the market is essential to attract buyers quickly.

You can rely on our guide to estimate the right price for your property.

Receiving offers

Buyers may submit purchase offers, which the landlord is free to accept or decline.

Signing the deed

Once an offer is accepted:

• signing a preliminary agreement
• then signing the final deed of sale

At Lodgis, we support you at every step to secure your project: price estimation, marketing, and follow-up through to completion. Discover how to sell your property with Lodgis and maximize your chances of success.

Conclusion

Notice to sell in furnished rentals is a straightforward but demanding procedure. By respecting legal obligations, deadlines, and tenant rights, you can secure your project.

To go further, explore our owners FAQ, which brings together all our advice to optimize your rental management and real estate projects.