Residential lease (bail à loyer)
The bail à loyer is the tenancy agreement by which a landlord makes a property available to a tenant in exchange for rent, for a fixed term.
It sets out the terms of the tenancy: amount of the rent and of the charges, duration, rental deposit, respective obligations of the landlord and of the tenant. Its written form protects both parties in the event of a disagreement.
When it is signed, the lease is generally accompanied by an inventory of fixtures drawn up on entry, which will serve as the reference when the tenant moves out.