Long-term hire may suit you if you know how long you’ll be staying and would like someone else to handle certain arrangements, provided the services and return terms are set out in your contract. Buying is worth considering if you can keep, move or resell the appliance. If your departure date is uncertain, pay particular attention to any obligations that will remain after you leave.
You’re moving for your studies or a work assignment and don’t necessarily want to transport or resell a bulky appliance when you leave. The Institut national de la consommation presents hiring as an option for this kind of temporary need.
You could keep the appliance after your stay, take it to another home or arrange to resell it. Buying gives you that option, but you’ll also need to plan how to remove it from the property.
You’re happy to check the appliance’s condition and accessories, and arrange transport. Before buying, check whether you’re dealing with a business or a private seller: this affects whether the statutory guarantee of conformity applies, as explained by the French Ministry of the Economy and Service-Public.fr.
For a temporary stay, start with your likely departure date, then check what each option covers for installation, breakdowns and removing the appliance from the property.
Worth considering if: you know how long you’ll be staying and want the hire company to handle some of the arrangements for the appliance.
Bear in mind: you won’t automatically own the appliance, and the end-of-hire arrangements depend on your contract. The Institut national de la consommation describes a hire period of 6 to 48 months; BUT also offers appliance plans lasting 36, 48 or 60 months.
Worth considering if: you could keep, move or resell the appliance after your stay.
Plan ahead: you’ll need to arrange installation and removal from the property, depending on the services agreed with the seller.
Worth considering if: you can inspect the appliance and its accessories, and check the collection arrangements before committing.
Know the difference: according to the French Ministry of the Economy and Service-Public.fr, the statutory guarantee of conformity covers second-hand goods sold by a business to a private individual, but not sales between private individuals.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Duration and commitment | Compare the fixed term with your likely departure date; check what you would still owe or need to do if you left earlier. | I want to avoid a commitment running on after my stay, and to factor in the option to resell if I buy; around 38% of consumers say this commitment is their main concern. |
| Installation, breakdowns and collection | For your address and chosen model, check who delivers and installs the appliance, handles breakdowns and collects it. | For a bulky appliance, I’d rather keep the arrangements to a minimum when moving in and out; around 31% of consumers prioritise this kind of support. |
| Leaving and ownership | Read the cancellation and return clauses, along with any option to keep the appliance. | If my departure date could change, I want to know how to return or keep the appliance; this flexibility is the main concern for around 31% of consumers. |
The term offered by one hire company won’t necessarily apply elsewhere: the Institut national de la consommation describes a plan lasting 6 to 48 months, while BUT offers appliance hire for 36, 48 or 60 months.
Before signing, check the fixed term, early termination arrangements, return conditions and the condition the appliance must be in when returned.
The long-term hire arrangement described by the Institut national de la consommation does not lead to ownership. Under its own terms, Kazoo gives you the option to keep or return the appliance: these are two different arrangements.
Check your contract for the clause on returning or keeping the appliance, and the steps you’ll need to take when your subscription ends.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity covers second-hand goods sold by a business to a private individual. According to the French Ministry of the Economy and Service-Public.fr, it does not apply to sales between private individuals.
Check who the seller is, test that the appliance works and make sure all the accessories are included. Keep a copy of the listing and proof of the transaction.
A rental service for private customers, with plans including 12, 24 or 36-month commitments.
A retailer offering long-term hire of large appliances in its shops, with plans listed for 36, 48 or 60 months.
A subscription platform offering, among other things, appliances suited to temporary needs.
No: it depends on the plan. The Institut national de la consommation explains that the long-term hire arrangement it describes does not offer the option to buy the appliance at the end, while Kazoo’s own terms give you the option to keep it. Read the ownership clause before committing.
Not always: services vary depending on the retailer, appliance and contract. Boulanger Location says it offers delivery and collection, as well as installation for large appliances; BUT offers delivery or assembly options. Also check who will disconnect and remove the appliance when you leave.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies when a business sells a second-hand appliance to a private individual, according to the French Ministry of the Economy. Service-Public.fr explains that it does not apply to sales between private individuals. So check who the seller is and keep the documents relating to your purchase.