How do rental deposits work when renting in Paris?
A rental deposit (dépôt de garantie) is paid when signing an unfurnished or furnished lease and is held by the landlord as security against unpaid rent or damage found at move-out. The maximum amount and the return deadline are set by law and differ for unfurnished and furnished lets.
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How it works
The deposit is paid alongside the first rent payment and recorded in the lease itself. At the end of the tenancy, the landlord compares an entry inventory (état des lieux) with an exit inventory, and any deductions must be justified against damage beyond normal wear.
Commonly mixed up with
A deposit is sometimes treated as a final month of rent that does not need to be paid separately. It is a separate sum held for the whole tenancy and is not a substitute for the last rent payment.
How do rental deposits work when renting in Paris?
| Knowledge, Paris | Big city topics |
|---|---|
| Short answer | A rental deposit (dépôt de garantie) is paid when signing an unfurnished or furnished lease and is held by the landlord as security against unpaid rent or damage found at move-out. The maximum amount and the return deadline are set by law and differ for unfurnished and furnished lets. |
| How it works | The deposit is paid alongside the first rent payment and recorded in the lease itself. At the end of the tenancy, the landlord compares an entry inventory (état des lieux) with an exit inventory, and any deductions must be justified against damage beyond normal wear. |
| Commonly mixed up with | A deposit is sometimes treated as a final month of rent that does not need to be paid separately. It is a separate sum held for the whole tenancy and is not a substitute for the last rent payment. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- How much can a landlord ask for?
- The maximum deposit amount depends on whether the lease is furnished or unfurnished, set by current legislation.
- When must the deposit be returned?
- A return deadline applies after move-out, which can be extended if deductions are being assessed.
- What is an état des lieux?
- It is a detailed inventory of the property's condition, made at entry and again at exit.
- Can the deposit cover unpaid rent?
- Yes, unpaid rent or charges can be deducted from the deposit at departure.
- Where is current guidance published?
- Service-public.fr publishes current rules on rental deposits.
Sources
More in this track
- What lease types and notice periods apply to renting in Paris?
- What documents are needed to rent housing in Paris?
- What is the carte Vitale and how does French health insurance work?
- How does seeing a doctor and getting reimbursed work in Paris?
- How does school enrolment work in Paris?
- What are the waste and recycling rules in Paris?
- What is the ZFE low emission zone and the Crit'Air sticker in Paris?
- What are the noise and neighbour rules in Paris?
- How do you register utilities and update your address in Paris?
These pages explain how the rules work and link the authority that owns them. They are not legal, tax or immigration advice, and amounts and thresholds change, so open the source before you act.
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