Before buying anything, check which appliances are already there and what condition they’re in. If you’re renting, also check your tenancy agreement and inventory. If the property has neither a working fridge nor a suitable way to cook, start with your food storage and cooking needs. Then decide whether to buy a washing machine, dishwasher or cleaning appliance based on how you live, what can be installed and what’s already available.
Check your tenancy agreement and inventory, then make sure any appliances already there are in good working order before planning a purchase. For a furnished rental that is your main home, France’s National Housing Information Agency (ANIL) highlights the minimum kitchen equipment and suitable cleaning equipment that must be provided.
First, check what you have for storing food and preparing meals. Don’t assume that a kitchen space already comes with appliances. The ADEME–EDF R&D study on French households’ appliances in 2023 lists fridges and hobs among the most commonly owned appliances. However, what other households own doesn’t determine what you need to buy.
Consider how often you do the washing and washing-up, how many people live in the home, which chores are shared and how much space you have. These needs may mean buying certain appliances sooner than you would in a home occupied by one person, provided they aren’t already supplied.
First, check what’s already working. Then separate the essentials you’ll need from the moment you move in from appliances you can put off buying, depending on your habits. The percentages below refer to consumers’ main concern, not how often they own each appliance.
| Main concern | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances already provided | Compare the tenancy agreement, inventory and check-in report with the appliances in the property. Test that they work before placing an order. | As a tenant in a furnished home, I want to avoid buying an appliance that’s already there and know what to report if it doesn’t work. Around 25% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Food storage and cooking | Check that working appliances are provided, where they’re located and what connections are available. | Without a suitable way to store food or prepare meals, I need to be able to manage these essentials as soon as I move in. Around 25% of consumers put being able to look after their food needs first. |
| Washing clothes | Think about how often you do the washing and what alternatives are available. Then measure the space and check the connections. | When washing builds up regularly and there’s no other practical option, being able to do the washing at home becomes my main priority. This applies to around 20% of consumers. |
| Washing-up in a shared home | Consider how much washing-up there is, the space available, the water supply and drainage. | In a household where shared meals create a lot of washing-up, my main concern is finding a way to manage the chore between occupants. Around 15% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Cleaning floors | Check what cleaning equipment is already available and whether it’s suitable for your floors, as well as how much storage space you have. | If the equipment available isn’t right for the floors in my home, I’d rather sort this out before adding other appliances I can put off buying. Around 15% of consumers make cleaning their priority. |
You could end up ordering a fridge, hob or cleaning equipment that’s already there. ANIL outlines the minimum equipment required in a furnished rental that is someone’s main home.
Compare the appliances with the tenancy agreement and inventory, test them when you move in and record their condition in the check-in report.
The decree on decent housing requires a fitted kitchen or kitchenette with space for a cooking appliance. This doesn’t mean that an appliance must be provided.
Check what’s actually included in the property before planning the purchases you’ll need to prepare meals.
These appliances aren’t on the list of minimum equipment for furnished rentals set out by ANIL. Whether they’re included depends on what’s actually provided.
Check the inventory, then decide based on how often you’ll use an appliance, what other options are available and whether it can be installed.
Having the right capacity isn’t enough if the appliance won’t fit or can’t be connected. In France, the washing machines covered by the rules carry a durability index, while the dishwashers and vacuum cleaners covered carry a repairability index, according to information published by the ministry responsible for the ecological transition.
Measure the space, check the connections and compare the relevant information for each appliance category before choosing.
These models cover food storage, a portable cooking option, washing-up and floor care. Choose based on what’s already in your home and how you’ll use the appliances. This list doesn’t replace assessing whether you need a washing machine.
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Worth considering if there isn’t already a working fridge in your home.
Advertised capacity of 227 L, split between 153 L of fridge space and 74 L of freezer space. Advertised width of 54 cm, reversible door and Low Frost technology.
Check the full dimensions, required clearance and energy label before deciding where to put it.
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An option to consider if you need a portable way to cook rather than a fixed hob.
The model name lists eight power settings, an adjustable temperature of 60 to 270 °C and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm.
Check that your cookware is suitable for induction, and make sure you have enough worktop space and a suitable socket. A portable hob may not meet all your household’s cooking needs.
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Worth considering if your daily washing-up warrants an appliance and you have room for a countertop model in your kitchen.
Advertised integrated 5 L water tank and programme configuration listed as 6+3 in the product name.
Check the space, drainage and tap compatibility if you plan to connect it to the water supply. Also confirm which accessories you’ll need for the installation.
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Worth considering for a household that regularly has lots of washing-up, if your kitchen has space for a freestanding appliance.
Advertised capacity of 14 place settings and seven cycles listed in the product name.
Check the space available, water supply, drainage and connection requirements before buying.
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Worth considering if your home doesn’t already have suitable equipment for cleaning its floors.
The product name lists 18 kPa suction and up to 40 minutes’ run time. Actual run time will depend on how it’s used.
Check that the cleaning head is suitable for your floors and that the run time meets your needs. Don’t vacuum liquids, flammable materials or hot items.
Check the tenancy agreement, inventory and that the appliances are in working order. For a furnished rental that is your main home, ANIL lists hobs, an oven or microwave, a fridge and a freezer or freezer compartment among the minimum requirements. Washing machines and dishwashers aren’t included.
No. The requirement for a kitchen in decent housing, set out in the decree of 30 January 2002, includes a fitted space for a cooking appliance. It doesn’t require a fridge or washing machine to be provided. Check the tenancy agreement and check-in report to find out which appliances are actually included.
First compare the dimensions and connections required, then check the energy label where applicable. In France, according to the ministry responsible for the ecological transition, washing machines have been covered by the durability index since April 2025, while the repairability index applies to dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, among other products. Check the index displayed for the model you’re considering.
Keep your proof of purchase and the product description, along with any documents relating to delivery or installation. France’s Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control notes that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. These documents will help you describe the fault and the terms of sale.