If you’re living somewhere temporarily, it’s worth comparing long-term rental with buying if you have a reasonably clear idea of when you’ll be leaving and would rather not have to sell a large appliance. If you expect to keep the appliance for longer or take it with you, consider buying a new compact or reconditioned model instead. First check what’s already included in your accommodation, the total cost and what you’ll do with the appliance when you leave.
If you need an appliance while you’re studying but don’t want the hassle of selling it when you leave, compare renting with buying. The French National Consumer Institute lists student accommodation as one situation where a short-term need may make renting worth considering.
Having an approximate departure date makes it easier to calculate rental payments for the full term and plan the return. If you buy an appliance, check whether you’ll be able to transport it, sell it or have it taken away.
Start by checking the inventory and measuring the available spaces. In France, the decree of 31 July 2015 on furnished accommodation, published on Légifrance, includes cooking and refrigeration equipment in its minimum list; washing machines are not included.
How long you expect to stay will influence whether you rent or buy, but first work out which appliances you actually need and what you’ll do when you leave.
Worth considering: if you have a clear idea of when you’ll leave and would rather return a large appliance than transport or sell it.
Bear in mind: you won’t own the appliance. Compare the rental payments for the full term and read the end-of-contract conditions.
Worth considering: if you’ll be able to keep, take or sell the appliance after your stay.
Plan for: arranging installation and what to do with the appliance when you leave, even if it fits the space.
Worth considering: if you can check the condition of a specific appliance and arrange delivery or transport.
Check: who the seller is, which accessories are included, the stated condition and the guarantees that apply to the sale.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| What’s already included | Check the inventory, test the appliances and measure any available spaces. In France, the minimum list for furnished accommodation published on Légifrance includes items such as a hob, an oven or microwave, and a fridge with a freezer or freezer compartment. | Before I order anything, I want to know what already works in the accommodation so I don’t end up with a duplicate appliance. |
| Length of stay and total cost | If you rent, add up the rental payments and any fees specified in the contract for the period you expect to need the appliance. Then check what happens if you leave earlier or later than planned. Compare the total with the cost of buying, delivery and any potential resale. | If my departure date changes, I want to understand what each option involves, rather than just comparing a monthly payment with the purchase price. |
| Services and returning the appliance | Get the arrangements for delivery, installation, maintenance, breakdowns, damage and returns in writing. Services advertised by a retailer apply only to the offer and contract in question. | I’d rather know from the outset who to contact if the appliance breaks down and what I’ll need to do before I leave. |
| Space required | Measure the width, depth and height, check delivery access and allow for the necessary clearance. If the appliance needs plumbing, also check that the water inlet, waste outlet and power socket are suitable. | In a small kitchen or bathroom, an appliance needs to fit through the door, be installed and remain easy to use without blocking anything. |
| Condition and seller | For a second-hand or reconditioned appliance, ask for the exact model, its condition, the accessories and the delivery terms. The French Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new and second-hand goods sold by a trader, subject to the conditions set out by law. | If I buy a pre-owned appliance, I want to know its condition and who to contact if there’s a problem. |
You could end up buying a fridge or cooking appliance that’s already there. The French decree of 31 July 2015, published on Légifrance, includes these in the minimum list for furnished accommodation, but not a washing machine.
Ask for the inventory, check that the appliances work when you move in, and only then measure the spaces that need filling.
A monthly payment doesn’t show how much you’ll pay over the full rental period or what happens if your stay is extended.
Calculate the total cost for the likely term, including any fees, then compare it with the cost of buying, delivery and your plans for when you leave.
Delivery, assembly and collection depend on the offer. BUT advertises these services as part of its rental offer, but that doesn’t define the obligations of all rental providers or the terms of every contract.
Ask for the written terms covering maintenance, breakdowns, damage, cancellation and the return of your chosen appliance.
The seller’s status affects the protections available when you buy. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, a professional seller must provide the statutory guarantee of conformity for eligible goods, including second-hand items.
Check who the seller is before paying. Confirm the model, condition, accessories, whether you can test it and how it will be transported.
These examples cover rental, reconditioning and compact appliances to buy. Check the current offer and specifications for the appliance you’re considering.
A retailer to look at when comparing a long-term rental offer with buying an appliance.
A reconditioned appliance seller to consider if you want to check the condition and sale terms for a specific appliance.
A brand to consider if the available depth limits your choice of washing machine.
These models are compact options to buy if you need to equip temporary accommodation. Check the inventory first: in furnished accommodation in France, cooking equipment and a fridge are included in the minimum list set out in the decree of 31 July 2015.
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Worth considering if your accommodation doesn’t have a microwave and you’re looking to buy one. The model name indicates 700 W, 11 power levels, six preset menus and a defrost function. Check the available space, installation clearances and socket compatibility.
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Consider this only if the accommodation inventory shows that you need an extra fridge. This model is described as a tabletop fridge with adjustable feet and a tempered glass shelf. Measure the space and allow for the necessary clearance; also check that the freezer compartment is suitable for your needs.
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Worth considering if your accommodation doesn’t have a washing machine and you’re looking for a foldable option. The product name lists three cycle times — 2, 5 and 10 minutes —, 40 W and 320 rpm; these figures alone aren’t enough to tell you how well it will wash your clothes. Check the dimensions, drainage and installation requirements before you choose.
Start by checking the inventory and making sure the appliances already there work. In France, the decree of 31 July 2015 published on Légifrance includes a hob, an oven or microwave, and a fridge with a freezer or freezer compartment in the minimum list for furnished accommodation; it does not include a washing machine.
Add up the rental payments and fees for the full expected length of your stay, then check the terms if you leave early or stay longer. The French National Consumer Institute describes appliance rental periods of 6 to 48 months. Compare the available term with your departure date and with the cost of buying an appliance you could take with you or sell.
Don’t assume that the rental includes the option to buy; check the end-of-contract clause. The French National Consumer Institute distinguishes between rent-to-own, which includes a promise of sale, and rental without this option.
First, find out who the seller is. For a purchase from a professional seller in France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity also applies to second-hand goods, subject to the conditions set out by law. Before buying, also check the appliance’s model, condition and accessories.
Plan to take it with you, sell it, give it away or use an appropriate take-back scheme. If you buy a new appliance of the same type, the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes a ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme. Ask the relevant retailer how it works.