French residential lease: term, notice and IRL review

Lease term: 3 years, 6 years, 1 year

Sources: 1989 Law, art. 10 (Légifrance); service-public.gouv.fr.

Unfurnished lease of less than 3 years. A private landlord can sign a lease of at least 1 year if a specific family or professional event justifies it (retirement, housing a student child, etc.). The reason must be stated in the lease and the landlord must confirm that it has occurred by registered letter at least 2 months before expiry; only one postponement is possible. Otherwise, the lease is deemed to have been concluded for 3 years (service-public.gouv.fr).

Leases signed since 1 October 2026. They must comply with the regulatory model lease in force; it states in particular the tax identifier of the property (except in the overseas departments) and, where applicable, the main-residence easement (service-public.gouv.fr, verified on 1 October 2026).

Tenant’s notice: 3 months or 1 month

In a furnished letting, the tenant can leave at any time with 1 month’s notice. In an unfurnished letting, notice is 3 months, but it drops to 1 month (1989 Law, art. 15, version in force since 29 July 2023):

• in high-demand areas (municipalities on the list annexed to decree no. 2013-392, repealed on 1 January 2027 by decree no. 2026-831: for a lease signed in 2027, check the list then applicable);
• in the event of a first job, a transfer, loss of employment or a new job following loss of employment;
• if the tenant’s state of health, certified by a doctor, justifies a change of home;
• for recipients of the RSA (minimum income benefit) or the AAH (disabled adult allowance), or for a tenant who obtains social housing;
• in cases of domestic violence or violence against a child, with the required evidence (protection order, prosecution or conviction less than 6 months old).

The reason must be stated in the letter and supported by evidence; without a reason, the 3-month notice applies. Notice runs from the day the landlord receives the letter: received on 5 September, it starts a 1-month notice period running until midnight on 5 October (service-public.gouv.fr). In a high-demand area, the letter states the address of the property and that the tenant is relying on the reduced notice period (service-public.gouv.fr).

How to give notice. Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, a deed served by a commissaire de justice (bailiff), or hand delivery against signature. A simple email is not valid, even if acknowledged; an electronic registered letter is valid if the private landlord has first agreed to this method, with 15 days to respond (service-public.gouv.fr).

Notice given by the landlord

The landlord can only give notice at the expiry of the lease and for an authorised reason: taking the property back to live in, selling it, or a legitimate and serious reason. Notice is at least 6 months for unfurnished and 3 months for furnished lettings; a bail mobilité ends at its term without notice (1989 Law, art. 15; service-public.gouv.fr). Some tenants are protected, notably those over 65 on modest incomes: the landlord must then offer them alternative housing nearby.

Annual rent review in line with the IRL

Rent can be reviewed once a year if a clause in the lease provides for it, within the limit of the change in the rent reference index (IRL) published by Insee:

New rent = current rent × IRL for the reference quarter of the current year ÷ IRL for the same quarter of the previous year.

Source: service-public.gouv.fr (verified on 12 July 2026); notice in the Journal officiel for Q2 2026. In Corsica, the IRL for Q2 2026 is 146.22; in the overseas departments, 146.94.

Official example: a lease signed on 20 July 2025 at €600 can be reviewed on 20 July 2026 to 600 × 148.37 ÷ 146.68 = €606.91 (service-public.gouv.fr).

The landlord has 1 year from the review date to request it; it is not retroactive and, after that period, it is lost. A review is prohibited for a home rated F or G on the DPE (energy performance certificate) whose lease was signed, renewed or tacitly renewed since 24 August 2022 in mainland France (since 1 July 2024 overseas) (service-public.gouv.fr).

Which professional to consult

An agent immobilier (estate agent) who manages lettings drafts a lease that complies with the regulatory model in force since 1 October 2026 and keeps track of IRL reviews. For notice to sell or a lease signed before a notaire (acte authentique, notarised deed), contact a notaire. Before any review, have the energy rating checked by a diagnostiqueur (property surveyor): at F or G, no increase is possible.