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The Importance of a Tenancy Agreement When Renting out Your Property in France

Many investors who own properties in France take advantage of the fact that this country is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world and they rent out their France property to tourists for part of the year. This allows them to make a steady rental income while they are not using the property.

However, there are many legal requirements to the rental process, and it is important to keep informed of all the details. One of the most important things that owners of France property should remember when renting out their holiday home property in France for any significant period of time such as several months, is that it is a good idea to create a tenancy agreement. This is a written contract signed by the homeowner and the tenant which specifies all of the details of the arrangement.

If you have never written a tenancy agreement before but are planning to rent out your property in France, here are a few guidelines of what to include:

Clear Guidelines of Rent and Other Expenses

Make sure that the tenancy agreement states the full names and contact information of the people who will be renting your property in France. If there are two or more names on the contract, let each person know that they will be held responsible for the rent of the others. Specify the exact total that is due and what day of the month is it due by, and outline clearly whether the tenants are responsible for electrical, water, telephone, hydro bills, or any other expenses. Stating these expenses and due dates very clearly at the beginning of the arrangement will help to clear up any possible confusion or debates in the future.
 
The Responsibility of the Tenant

You might want to charge a damage deposit, which is usually equal to half of a month's rent. This deposit will be refunded to your tenants once they check out as long as the property was not damaged during their stay. However, in the agreement you can specify that if any damage has occurred to furniture, fixings, or the home itself then you will be keeping the deposit to cover the cost.
 
Another other Important Details

If you have any other requirements or specifications regarding the rental of your property in France, here is the space to outline them. Do you allow pets? Do you allow smoking in the house? How much notice do you require if your renters decide to cut their holiday short and leave?

A tenancy agreement allows homeowners and holiday renters to have a clear and defined contract of their rental of France properties, so that each party involved is on the same page and can work together happily.