If you’re moving somewhere temporarily, first check which appliances are included with the property. If you need to get your own, a long-term rental could save you the hassle of selling and transporting an appliance when you leave, provided the commitment, included services and return arrangements suit the length of your stay. Buying new or second-hand may be a better option if you want to keep the appliance or have the option of selling it on.
If you know when your stay is likely to end, renting could save you the effort of arranging a sale or another move. Still, check that the contract length and return arrangements fit your departure date.
Buying, particularly second-hand or refurbished, gives you the choice to keep, give away or sell the appliance. You’ll also need to arrange delivery, maintenance and what happens to it at the end of your stay.
Before choosing an appliance, ask for an inventory and check the condition of the equipment already provided. A furnished property may meet some of your needs, but it won’t necessarily include every appliance you’d like to use.
Start by checking what the property already has. Then compare the length of your stay with any rental term, and consider what you want to do with the appliance after you leave.
| Your priority | What to check | Who this suits |
|---|---|---|
| Making your move easier | Removal and return arrangements; whether transport is included. | I don’t want to look for a buyer or move an appliance when I leave the property. Around 36% of consumers put a hassle-free move first. |
| Keeping things flexible | The minimum contract term and the terms for ending it early. | If my departure date might change, I want to be able to adjust my arrangements without being tied to a rental that lasts longer than my stay. This flexibility comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Using the appliance again | Whether it can be installed in your next home; its condition and warranty if buying second-hand. | I plan to use the same appliance after this stay, so I’d rather own it. Around 21% of consumers put continuity of use first. |
| Avoiding a duplicate | The property inventory and the condition of any appliances provided with the keys. | Before buying anything, I want to know whether the property already has the appliance I need. For around 14% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
Rental offers don’t necessarily include the same services. The French National Consumer Institute recommends checking separately whether installation, removal, maintenance and repairs are covered. If you’re buying an appliance to keep, also consider the connection requirements and how you’ll transport it to your next home.
A rental can suit a temporary need, but may become restrictive if you leave before the contract ends. Cancellation terms vary from one contract to another.
Check the end date, the process for ending the contract early and any obligations that remain if you leave sooner.
Installation, removal and different types of repair may be covered by separate clauses. A general statement on its own doesn’t tell you who will deal with a breakdown.
Read the service terms before signing. Check which work is covered and what you need to do to contact the after-sales team.
At the end of a long-term rental, the appliance doesn’t automatically become yours. Its condition and any accessories provided may be checked when you return it.
Keep any documents that describe its initial condition, and arrange the return before you move.
Returning it may take time, as you’ll need to remove it and transport it to the location specified in the contract.
A furnished property may already include the appliance you’re looking for. However, under Service Public guidance, a washing machine isn’t part of the minimum list of equipment required in a furnished main residence.
Ask for a detailed inventory and make sure the condition of any appliances provided is recorded when you move in.
BUT offers long-term appliance rentals. Its terms are an example of the clauses to check for a specific offer, rather than rules that apply to every rental provider.
The Envie network offers refurbished appliances, worth considering if you’d rather own an appliance than rent one.
Back Market has a category for refurbished large appliances, available to buy online.
These two appliances are options to consider buying if you only need limited refrigeration in a temporary home. Before choosing, check that a fridge isn’t already provided and that the capacity, power supply and installation suit your needs.
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Worth considering if you’re looking to buy a small fridge for a temporary home and its 45 L capacity meets your needs.
The product name mentions adjustable feet, a tempered glass shelf and an E energy rating. Before deciding, check the space available, plug compatibility and delivery terms.
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Consider this for a small-capacity cooling need, rather than assuming its 10 L capacity will replace a household fridge.
The product name mentions a 12 V/220 V power supply, plus cooling and warming functions. Check the plug type, the terms for using it on mains power, and whether it’s suitable for the food you want to store.
It could be a good fit if you want to avoid selling or transporting the appliance when you leave, and the contract length matches your stay. The French National Consumer Institute recommends checking which services are included and the return terms. Also find out what happens if you leave before the contract ends.
Check the minimum term, installation and removal, repairs covered, early termination terms and the condition expected when you return the appliance. Ask for written confirmation of who to contact if it breaks down and how to return it at the end of the contract.
For a residential tenancy in France, Service Public distinguishes between routine maintenance and minor rental repairs, which are the tenant’s responsibility, and other situations. Who is responsible for a breakdown depends in part on its cause. Record the appliance’s condition and how it works in the inventory and check-in report, then assess the specific circumstances before deciding who should arrange the repair.
No. According to Service Public, a washing machine isn’t on the minimum equipment list for a furnished property used as a main residence. Some properties do have one, though, so check the listing and inventory to find out exactly what’s included.
Yes. The French Ministry of the Economy says the legal guarantee of conformity also applies to second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to an individual in France. This is separate from any commercial warranty offered by the seller, so check who the seller is before buying.