For a temporary stay, long-term rental is worth considering if the contract allows you to return the appliances when you leave and includes the services you need. Buying new, second-hand or refurbished may be a better fit if you plan to keep the appliances after moving and can arrange their transport. Before deciding, check what is already provided in the property, the length of the commitment and the terms for ending the agreement.
If you’ll only be staying for the duration of your studies or placement, think about what you’ll do with the appliances when you leave. France’s National Consumer Institute specifically cites a student moving in as a situation where renting can be useful.
Delivery, help with breakdowns and collection may matter more to you than owning the appliances. Boulanger Location and HomeCycle advertise some of these services, although what’s included depends on the contract you choose.
You want to own the appliance, but it doesn’t have to be new. In France, when you buy from a trader, the legal guarantee of conformity also applies to second-hand and refurbished goods, as the Ministry of the Economy points out.
Start by listing the appliances already provided, then compare your likely moving date with the commitments involved in each option. Ownership, included services and installation requirements will help you decide between buying new, buying second-hand or refurbished, and renting.
Consider it: for a temporary need, if the delivery, support and collection terms suit the length of your stay.
Bear in mind: you won’t own the appliance, and you’ll need to stick to the minimum term and follow the return arrangements. France’s National Consumer Institute notes that renting may be useful for a short-term need.
Consider it: if you want to choose a specific model and keep it after you move.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to arrange installation, maintenance and transport when you move again.
Consider it: if you want to own the appliance and then keep or resell it, after checking its condition.
Bear in mind: check both the appliance and the seller. The legal guarantee of conformity that applies when a trader sells to a consumer does not automatically apply to a sale between private individuals.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Moving out | Minimum rental term, early termination, disconnection and collection arrangements. | I might leave before a rental agreement ends, and I’d rather not arrange to sell the appliances. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this flexibility when moving out. |
| Length of commitment | Contract start date, expected length of stay and any obligations that remain if your plans change. | My stay might be extended, so I want to compare what each option commits me to until I leave. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Breakdowns and handling | Which repairs are covered by the contract, any exclusions, delivery and collection. | If an appliance breaks down during a short stay, I want to know who will deal with it and who will move it. Around 20% of consumers put this kind of support first. |
| Appliances and available space | Property inventory, appliance dimensions, access and required connections. | I don’t want to duplicate an appliance that’s already there or have a model delivered that I can’t install. Around 20% of consumers prioritise making sure the appliance is suitable. |
Moving before the agreement ends can make returning the appliance more complicated. Terms vary between providers: for example, BUT offers 36-, 48- or 60-month commitments for its household appliances.
Compare the contract length with your earliest likely moving date, and ask for the early termination terms in writing.
In France, the regulations for furnished accommodation used as a tenant’s main residence include, among other things, a hob, an oven or microwave, and a fridge and freezer, or a fridge with a compartment that reaches a temperature of −6 °C or below.
Check the inventory and record the condition of the appliances already there in the check-in report before buying anything else.
Boulanger Location and HomeCycle advertise breakdown support or after-sales service, but the work covered and any exclusions depend on the terms of the contract you choose.
Check the clauses covering breakdowns, damage, accessories, call-outs and the return of your chosen model. Keep a copy of the contract.
Long-term rental service for large and small household appliances.
Retailer offering, among other things, long-term rental of large household appliances.
Rental service offering washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and fridges.
Furniture and large appliance rental company, with products including fridges, washing machines and ovens.
These appliances are options to consider buying for temporary accommodation: two fridges and a compact, foldable washing machine. First check what’s already provided, then confirm each model’s dimensions and installation requirements.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your accommodation needs a fridge and you’d like to keep the appliance after you move.
The model name indicates a capacity of 92 L, a freezer compartment and an E energy rating. Before ordering, check the installation dimensions and the compartment temperature if it needs to meet the requirements for furnished accommodation used as your main residence.
Image unavailable
Consider this if you need refrigeration in temporary accommodation and plan to keep or transport the appliance afterwards.
The model name indicates a capacity of 82 L and an E energy rating. Check the dimensions and whether it has a freezer compartment if you need that feature in your accommodation.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for a foldable washing appliance for a small space, but don’t assume it will replace a washing machine for your usual laundry loads.
The product name lists three cycle times of 2, 5 and 10 minutes, a 40 W motor and a speed of 320 rpm. Check how much space it takes up, its water supply and drainage requirements, and the amount of laundry it can handle for your needs.
For furnished accommodation in France that serves as the tenant’s main residence, the regulations published on Légifrance include, among other things, a hob, an oven or microwave, and a fridge and freezer, or at least a fridge with a compartment that reaches a temperature of −6 °C or below. Check the inventory and the condition of the appliances when you move in.
It may be suitable if the contract length matches your stay and the return arrangements mean you don’t have to transport or sell the appliance. France’s National Consumer Institute gives the example of a student moving for their studies as a short-term need. Still, check the terms for leaving early.
Check the start date and length of the commitment, delivery and installation arrangements, which repairs are covered, early termination terms and the condition the appliance must be in when returned. Also ask who will deal with a breakdown or a move.
Only if the contract gives you that option. France’s National Consumer Institute distinguishes between long-term rental and rental with an option to buy. Boulanger Location, for its part, says it doesn’t offer an option to buy at the end of the rental period.
Yes. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity also applies, subject to its terms, to second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. Keep your receipt and the product description. A sale between private individuals is not automatically covered by the same rules.