Start by checking which appliances are already there and what you’re missing. If the property has no way to store food or cook, sort out those essentials before considering appliances you can do without for now. Before buying anything, check the available space, connections and installation requirements, then compare models or decide between new, refurbished and second-hand. If you’re renting a furnished property in France as your main home, first check that the cooking and refrigeration equipment required under the decree of 31 July 2015 is provided.
If you’re missing several everyday essentials, decide what to buy first before choosing appliances that are more about convenience. If you’re renting a furnished property in France as your main home, pay particular attention to the cooking and refrigeration equipment listed in the French decree of 31 July 2015.
Measure the route into the property and the space where the appliance will go, then check what connections it needs. If you’re putting a washing machine in a bathroom, Promotelec notes that you’ll also need to consider electrical safety and where it can be positioned.
Before choosing a refurbished or second-hand appliance, check its condition, accessories and who is selling it. In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the protections available depend, among other things, on whether you buy from a business or a private seller.
Start by checking what you already have for storing food, cooking, doing the laundry and cleaning. Prioritise whatever you’re missing based on how you live, then make sure each appliance can be delivered and installed where you plan to put it.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Missing essentials | Make a list of the appliances already there and check their condition. Start with the things you can’t yet do in your new home. | If I can’t store food or cook, I want to make the property functional without buying something I already have. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise these missing essentials. |
| Space and connections | Measure the space and access route, then check the electrical supply and whether water and drainage connections are needed. | When space is limited, I need to know that I can get the appliance into place and connect it before committing to buy. Around 31% of consumers would consider this the main requirement. |
| Spreading out purchases | Check who is selling the appliance, as well as its condition, whether it works and which accessories are included if it’s refurbished or second-hand. | If I’m missing several appliances, I’d rather spread out my purchases and assess second-hand options carefully. Around 19% of consumers would put this decision first. |
| Long-term use | For the relevant categories, compare the energy label and any applicable durability or repairability rating. Choose a capacity that suits your needs. | If I’m planning to keep an appliance for a long time, I want to consider how it performs and how durable it is, not just its capacity. Around 19% of consumers would make this their priority. |
You could end up ordering a cooking or refrigeration appliance that’s already in the property. For a furnished rental in France that serves as the tenant’s main home, the decree of 31 July 2015 requires, among other things, a hob, an oven or microwave, and a fridge with a freezer or compartment that reaches at least −6 °C.
Check which appliances are actually there, their condition and any accessories before planning what to buy.
An appliance may fit in the space but still lack suitable connections or meet the necessary safety requirements. Promotelec sets out specific positioning and electrical protection requirements for a washing machine in a bathroom.
Check the dimensions, access route and connections separately. If the electrical installation needs assessing or modifying, ask a suitably qualified professional rather than assuming you can simply plug the appliance in.
The capacity should suit the amount of laundry you usually do. ADEME says that a 7 kg washing machine is sufficient in most cases and advises against running lots of cycles with a barely filled drum.
Think about your usual laundry loads and the space available, then compare the energy label information for the models you’re considering.
In France, according to the Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual. The same guarantee does not apply to private sales, although the guarantee against hidden defects may apply under its own conditions.
Check who the seller is, keep the listing and proof of purchase, and check the appliance’s condition, that it works and which accessories are included.
Start by checking which appliances are actually there. In France, the decree of 31 July 2015 requires certain equipment in a furnished rental that serves as the tenant’s main home, including a hob, an oven or microwave, and a fridge with a freezer or compartment that reaches at least −6 °C. ANIL lists a washing machine and dishwasher among the extra appliances a landlord may provide.
No. You also need to check the access route, water supply, drainage and electrical installation. For a washing machine in a bathroom, Promotelec says the appliance must be outside zones 0, 1 and 2 and the concealed zone, be earthed and be connected to a circuit protected by a 30 mA residual-current device. Ask a suitably qualified professional to assess any work that may be needed.
Look at the energy label and the applicable durability rating for washing machines, and make sure the capacity suits your usual laundry loads. According to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the durability rating has applied to this category in France since 8 April 2025. It considers factors including repairability and reliability, but doesn’t predict the lifespan of any individual appliance.
Yes. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual, just as it does to new and second-hand goods sold under the same conditions, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Check the seller’s identity, the description of the appliance’s condition and which accessories are included.
The legal guarantee of conformity that applies to purchases from a business does not cover private sales. However, according to the Ministry of the Economy, the guarantee against hidden defects may apply regardless of who the seller is if the defect was hidden, existed before the sale and makes the item unfit for its intended use or significantly reduces its usefulness. The buyer must be able to prove these conditions. So check that the appliance works and keep the listing and proof of purchase.