Before ordering appliances for your first home, check what’s already there. In France, a decree setting out the minimum requirements for a furnished main residence includes a hob and a fridge. If you need to equip the property yourself, start with food storage and cooking options that suit the available space and power supply. Then decide what you need for laundry and cleaning, based on how you live, the connections available and other options you can access.
Check the inventory and condition report before planning to buy any appliances. For a furnished main residence rented in France, the decree published by Légifrance lists a hob and a fridge among the minimum required equipment. Check what is actually in your home and make sure it works.
Plan your purchases around the essentials you’ll need from the day you move in. Food storage and cooking come first if these aren’t already available. Laundry and vacuuming can come next, depending on how you live, the space you have and the other options available to you.
Check the appliance’s condition, dimensions and accessories, as well as the seller’s identity. Compare the available information on energy use and repairability too: an appliance that works in your home matters more than any one feature in isolation.
Start with the appliances already provided, then check each installation before moving on to the next need. This helps you avoid choosing a model that won’t fit or connect properly.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Existing appliances | Read the tenancy agreement and inventory, then check the condition and operation of the appliances. For a furnished main residence in France, the decree published by Légifrance includes a hob and a fridge among the minimum requirements. | If I’m renting a furnished home, I want to know what’s already provided before buying a duplicate appliance. |
| Food storage and cooking | If there are no usable appliances, measure the available spaces and check the power supply. For a built-in hob, also check the worktop cut-out and installation requirements. | I need to be able to store food and prepare meals, but the cooking option must suit the kitchen I have. |
| Laundry | Consider how much laundry you have and check the space, water inlet, drainage and electrical supply. ADEME says that a 7 kg capacity is enough in most cases; this is a general guide, not a substitute for considering your own needs. | Using a laundrette or another laundry service could let me put off buying a machine. If I do laundry at home regularly, I first need to make sure installation is possible. |
| Everyday use and cleaning | Compare the relevant information on the energy label, noise levels and repair options. For a vacuum cleaner, also consider the surfaces you need to clean and how much storage space you have. | In a studio, noise and the space an appliance takes up matter as much to me as its cleaning features. |
| Second-hand and refurbished appliances | Check the model, operation, accessories and dimensions. The French Ministry of the Economy describes a refurbished item as a second-hand product that has undergone full testing. Check the seller’s information rather than assuming that every second-hand appliance is refurbished. | If I buy a pre-owned appliance, I want to be able to check its condition and know who I’m buying it from. |
A furnished home may already have an appliance. Even if one is missing, a model chosen without measuring might not fit the space available.
Check the appliances in person, note their condition in the inventory and condition report, then measure the available space before ordering.
A capacity larger than your laundry load won’t solve installation issues or concerns about noise and energy use.
Think about how you’ll use it, then compare the energy label, water consumption, spin performance and noise levels. ADEME says that a 7 kg washing machine is enough in most cases.
Water means you need to take electrical safety precautions, and the appliance must be connected properly.
Promotelec sets out the requirements for earthing, protection by a 30 mA residual current device and placing the appliance outside zone 2. If the installation changes the property or its fittings, get the landlord’s written permission, as advised by ANIL.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, “refurbished” refers to a second-hand product that has undergone full testing. It doesn’t automatically describe every appliance sold second-hand.
Ask who the seller is and what tests have been carried out, then check that the model works and comes with the right accessories and dimensions for your needs.
These options cover food storage, cooking, laundry and cleaning. Only consider appliances that meet a need not already covered in your home and are suitable for installation there.
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Consider this if you do laundry at home regularly and have a suitable space for it. The model name indicates a 7 kg capacity, a 1,400 rpm spin speed and an A energy rating. Check the dimensions, connections and electrical supply requirements before choosing.
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Worth considering if your home doesn’t already have a way to keep food chilled and frozen. The model name specifies 153 L of fridge space and 74 L of freezer space, a width of 54 cm, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the height, the space needed for installation and the clearance required to open the door.
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This model could be worth considering for cleaning, provided you also have somewhere to store its dock. The model name gives a suction power of 170 AW and up to 80 minutes of runtime; the stated runtime may not apply to every mode. Check the space the whole unit takes up and whether the runtime suits your needs.
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Consider this if your home doesn’t have a hob and a built-in installation is possible. The model name specifies four zones and nine power levels. Before choosing, check the worktop cut-out, electrical circuit and whether your cookware is induction-compatible. If any alterations are needed, ask the landlord for written permission.
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This countertop hot plate could meet your cooking needs if you only need one hob and it’s suitable for your home. The model name specifies a power rating of 1,500 W and adjustable temperature settings. Check the voltage, plug, socket and surface you plan to use it on. With one hob, you can’t cook several dishes at once.
First, check the tenancy agreement, inventory and condition report. For a furnished main residence rented in France, the decree published by Légifrance lists a hob and a fridge among the minimum required equipment. Check that they are there and working before deciding whether to buy anything.
It depends on the location and electrical protection. Promotelec specifies that a washing machine must be earthed, protected by a 30 mA residual current device and placed outside zone 2. Check the connections too. If the installation changes the property or its fittings, ANIL says you’ll need the landlord’s written permission.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, a refurbished appliance is a second-hand product that has undergone full functionality testing and, if necessary, been repaired. For a specific appliance, ask what checks have been carried out and make sure it works and has the right accessories and dimensions for your needs.
For a washing machine, compare a capacity that suits your laundry load, the energy label, water consumption, spin performance and noise levels, as well as the connection requirements. For a vacuum cleaner, check the surfaces you need to clean, the storage space available and any repairability information. No single specification is enough to tell you whether a model is right for your home.