In an unfurnished first home, start by checking which appliances are actually there, as well as access routes, available spaces and connections. Then choose refrigeration and a cooking solution if you need to get them as soon as you move in. A washing machine, dishwasher and floor-care appliances can come later, depending on how you use them. A compact or combination appliance can save you from using several spaces, provided its capacity and features suit your needs.
Before adding to the existing appliances, compare what’s there with the tenancy agreement, inventory and check-in report. For a furnished rental that is the tenant’s main residence, the minimum list set out in the French decree is not the same as for an unfurnished rental.
The dimensions, access routes and connections determine which refrigeration, cooking or laundry appliances can be installed. Then compare their usable capacity with the space each one will take up.
If some purchases can wait, start with the things you’ll use most often rather than buying everything when you move in. To compare relevant models, check their energy labels; the repairability index also provides extra criteria for washing machines where it applies.
In an unfurnished home, first decide what you need to install to store food and cook, after checking what’s already there. Prioritise other purchases according to how often you do laundry, cook and clean your floors, as well as the space available.
| Need | What to check before you buy | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the space and access routes; check them against the dimensions, clearances and connections required for the exact model. | If my kitchen is narrow, I need to be able to get the appliance in and install it before I even choose its capacity. Around 25% of shoppers would put this compatibility first. |
| Basic refrigeration and cooking | Check which appliances are already there. Then choose the refrigeration capacity and cooking solution to suit your meals and the space available. | To prepare meals as soon as I move in, I mainly need to store food and have a usable way to cook. Around 25% of shoppers would prioritise this independence. |
| Laundry | Compare the capacity in kg with the amount of laundry you expect to do, then check water and energy use, spin performance and noise on the labels of relevant models. | If I do my laundry at home regularly, I want a suitable capacity without giving up too much space for the machine. Around 20% of shoppers would make laundry their main priority. |
| Meals and washing up | For a dishwasher, check the place settings, litres per cycle and kWh per 100 cycles; for cooking, make sure the format will work in your kitchen. | In a small kitchen where I often cook, I need to decide whether a dishwasher is worth the space or whether a combination cooking appliance would free up more room. Around 15% of shoppers would prioritise this decision. |
| Floor care | Check your floor types, the area to be cleaned and the storage space available; also see what equipment is already in the home. | To keep my floors clean without cluttering up storage, I’m looking for an appliance suited to the actual size of my home. Around 15% of shoppers would put this need first. |
For a furnished rental that is the tenant’s main residence, the French decree specifies, among other things, refrigeration, cooking and household cleaning equipment. Even so, check what’s actually there and what condition it’s in.
Read the tenancy agreement, inventory and check-in report before ordering an appliance that might duplicate something already provided.
A smaller appliance may solve a space problem, but it won’t necessarily offer the capacity you need. For laundry, ADEME recommends choosing a capacity based on the amount of washing you actually expect to do.
Measure the space, then compare the capacity and usage information for models of the same type.
Labels for the relevant categories also include information specific to each appliance, including consumption, capacity or noise. The energy rating alone doesn’t tell you everything about the compromises involved in using it.
Compare the labels for the exact models. For a relevant washing machine, also check its repairability index, but don’t treat it as a guarantee that the machine won’t break down.
Even a suitable appliance can delay your move-in if it won’t fit through the access routes or arrives after you need it.
Check the stated delivery time, access requirements and services included before placing your order. If you need it by a particular date, tell the seller in writing.
A delay could leave you without an appliance you need for everyday life.
In France, Bosch offers cooking, laundry, refrigeration and floor-care appliances.
Beko’s range includes laundry, refrigeration, cooking, dishwashing and vacuum cleaners.
Whirlpool’s French catalogue includes laundry, cooking, dishwashing and refrigeration appliances.
These models cover refrigeration, laundry and a combination cooking option. First decide which features your home needs, then check the dimensions, installation requirements and relevant label information for each model.
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Worth considering if you need refrigeration and freezing in one appliance.
The product name gives a capacity of 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer, a width of 54 cm, a reversible door and an E energy rating.
Check the height, required clearances and the label for the exact model before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering for regular laundry at home if you have a suitable space for it.
The product name gives a capacity of 7 kg, a spin speed of 1 400 rpm and an A energy rating.
Check the manual against your home’s water supply, drainage and electricity connections; also check the repairability index for this model.
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Worth comparing if you want refrigeration and freezing in one appliance, with enough capacity for your shopping.
The product name gives a capacity of 333 L and a C energy rating; it also mentions the NatureFRESH, DoorCooling+ and LinearCooling+ names.
Check the manual for clearance requirements and the label for energy information on the exact model.
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Worth looking at if doing laundry at home is a priority and the model’s size suits your space.
The product name gives a capacity of 7 kg, a spin speed of 1 200 rpm, 16 programmes and an A energy rating.
Check the full dimensions and connections in the manual. Before first use, follow the instructions for removing the transit bolts and levelling the machine.
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Worth considering if you want a combination cooking solution and have enough worktop space.
The product name gives a capacity of 39 L.
Compare this capacity with the food you prepare, and check the manual for ventilation clearances and electrical requirements before choosing where to put it.
Not before checking what’s provided. For a furnished rental that is the tenant’s main residence, the French decree published on Légifrance specifies, among other things, a hob, an oven or microwave, as well as a refrigerator and freezer, or at least a freezer compartment capable of reaching −6 °C. Check the tenancy agreement, inventory and condition of the appliances in the property.
No: the French decree on the minimum equipment for a furnished rental doesn’t mention a washing machine or dishwasher. It specifies household cleaning equipment suited to the property, but doesn’t require a particular type of vacuum cleaner. Check the inventory before deciding what you still need to buy.
Compare the information relevant to the product category across models that meet the same need, rather than looking at the energy rating alone. The French Ministry of the Economy says that energy labels apply to relevant refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens and cooker hoods, both in shops and online. Check the exact model and the information specific to each type of appliance.
No. According to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the repairability index has applied to washing machines, among other products, since 8 April 2025; don’t assume it appears on every appliance in the home. For a relevant washing machine, this score out of 10 complements other selection criteria, including parts, maintenance and resistance to wear.
Before ordering, check the stated delivery date or timeframe, the access routes into your home and which delivery services are included. The French National Consumer Institute reminds shoppers that sellers must provide a delivery date or timeframe in France. If your move-in date is fixed, let the seller know in writing.