Moving out

Before moving out, you must take care of several formalities.

Terminating a lease

You can end your rental agreement at any time. You must notify the lessor of your intent to move out by one of three means:

• Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt
• Bailiff’s order (acte d’huissier)
• Hand-delivered letter with a signed acknowledgement of receipt (i.e., date and signature alongside the phrase “hand delivered”)

Regardless of notification type, you must always indicate the date of termination, accounting for the required amount of notice. Generally, you must give 3 months’ notice, except in the case of furnished housing or certain types of student housing. 

However, you may only have to give 1 month’s notice if one of the following situations applies:

• You have received a work transfer
• You are moving for your first job
• You have a health problem that requires a change in accommodations
• You have lost your job
• You receive social benefits from the government (RSA or AAH)
• You are living in a rent-controlled area

Your lessor can also terminate the rental agreement under specific conditions. In such cases, they must give you 6 months’ notice via registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

Useful links

• Lease termination
• Example lease termination letter

Check-out inventory

When you move out, you must perform a check-out inventory, a process that will be guided by the check-in inventory. Whether or not the lessor returns all or part of your security deposit will depend on the results of the check-out inventory.

If you and the lessor disagree about the results of the check-out inventory, either of you can contact the Departmental Commission for Conciliation (Commission départementale de conciliation). The commission will work to amicably settle the disagreement free of charge.

Useful links

• Conducting a check-out inventory
• Departmental Commission for Conciliation

Cancelling your utility contracts

When you move out, you must remember to cancel all your utility contracts: 

• Gas, water, electricity, internet, and telephone services: cancelling your contract is free and can be done at any time either online (via your customer account) or by post (via a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt)
• Home insurance: your contract should mention the amount of notice required by your provider; your cancellation request must be sent by post (a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt)