Start by checking the accommodation inventory: there’s no need to buy or rent an appliance that’s already provided. If you need something temporarily and it isn’t included, renting can save you from having to transport or resell it, provided the commitment and end-of-tenancy arrangements suit your stay. Buying is worth considering if you’ll be able to keep, move or resell the appliance.
If you only need an appliance while you’re studying, renting can save you the hassle of arranging its resale or moving it. The French National Consumer Institute specifically lists a student moving into accommodation as a situation where renting can be useful. However, check that the rental commitment doesn’t outlast your stay.
Before choosing an appliance, compare the inventory with what’s actually in the accommodation. Decree No. 2015-981, published on Légifrance, sets out kitchen equipment as part of the minimum furnishings for rented furnished accommodation in France, but does not include a washing machine.
If you can move, keep or resell an appliance after you leave, compare buying with the commitment involved in renting. For a refurbished product, check the description of the specific item being sold and the seller’s service terms, not just the details for the new model.
The inventory shows what still needs to be provided; the length of your stay can then help you decide whether to rent or buy.
Worth considering: if the accommodation inventory confirms that the appliances you need are there and working.
Limitation: the minimum furnishings for rented furnished accommodation in France, set out in Decree No. 2015-981, do not include a washing machine.
Worth considering: for a temporary need, if you’d rather not deal with reselling or transporting the appliance after your stay, as explained by the French National Consumer Institute.
The trade-off: you won’t own the appliance and will be bound by the terms of your chosen contract, including its duration, cancellation and return arrangements.
Worth considering: if you’ll be able to use the appliance for longer, move it or resell it after your stay.
The trade-off: check how much space it takes up and decide what you’ll do with it when you leave. For a refurbished product, check the condition of the specific item being sold.
| Priority | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| What’s already provided | Check the inventory and make sure the appliances are in working order. For rented furnished accommodation in France, Decree No. 2015-981, published on Légifrance, specifies items including hobs, an oven or microwave, and a fridge with a freezer or a fridge with a freezer compartment. | I’d rather find out what’s already working in the accommodation before adding another appliance. I’ll check separately whether there’s a washing machine, as it isn’t included in this minimum list. |
| Rental period | Compare the contract term with your likely leaving date. Boulanger Location offers rental periods of 12 to 36 months, depending on the product. Read the cancellation process and how any fees are calculated: BUT states that ending a contract early may incur charges of up to 40% of the remaining rent due. | If I’m only staying for a few months, I want to know what happens if I leave before the contract ends, without assuming that one retailer’s terms apply to another. |
| Cost and services | Compare the initial payment and all the planned monthly payments with the cost of buying. Check what’s included in your chosen offer, such as delivery, installation, repairs and collection. The French National Consumer Institute notes that renting for an extended period can cost more than buying the item. | A monthly payment alone isn’t enough to help me decide: I need to know the full commitment and which services I’ll actually use. |
| Buying refurbished | Ask for the appliance’s model reference, condition, accessories and service terms. The DGCCRF specifies that its technical and cosmetic description must relate to the refurbished product itself, not the equivalent new product. | If I buy a refurbished appliance, I want to be able to assess the specific item on offer and keep its description and proof of purchase. |
A microwave or fridge may already be provided in furnished accommodation, whereas a washing machine isn’t part of the minimum list set out in Decree No. 2015-981 for furnished accommodation in France.
Ask for the inventory and check the appliances in person before deciding what to buy or rent.
The initial payment and the total of all monthly payments can change the comparison. The French National Consumer Institute points out that renting for an extended period can cost more than buying the item. For its own offer, BUT states that early cancellation charges can be as much as 40% of the remaining rent due.
Calculate the total commitment for the contract period, then read the cancellation and return terms before comparing it with the cost of buying.
A short stay may not fit the contracts on offer: Boulanger Location lists rental periods of 12 to 36 months, depending on the product, while BUT lists 36, 48 or 60 months for household appliances.
Compare your likely leaving date with the initial contract term, and ask how the appliance will need to be returned.
According to the DGCCRF, the technical and cosmetic information must describe the refurbished appliance being sold, rather than the equivalent new product.
Before buying, check the exact model reference, stated condition, accessories, warranty and after-sales service process.
These retailers illustrate rental or refurbished-product terms worth checking. Their inclusion here doesn’t guarantee that appliances will be available for your accommodation.
An appliance rental service whose terms and conditions apply to mainland France.
A retailer that offers long-term rentals of household appliances, among other services.
A network to consider for buying refurbished second-hand appliances, depending on what your local branch has to offer.
These appliances are options to consider buying if the inventory shows you need them: three microwaves, a table-top fridge and a washing machine. Before choosing whether to buy or rent, compare their size with your available space and how long you’ll use them.
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Worth considering if the inventory doesn’t include a microwave and you’d like to buy one for your stay.
The product name lists six power levels, a 30-minute timer, a defrost function and a turntable. Check the available space, required clearances and electrical compatibility before installation.
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An option to buy if the accommodation doesn’t have a microwave suited to your needs.
Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions and the installation clearances in the model documentation.
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Only consider this after checking the fridge listed in the accommodation inventory and assessing how much storage you need.
The product name lists adjustable feet, a toughened glass shelf and an E energy rating. If you plan to store frozen food in it, check the compartment specifications in the model documentation.
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Worth considering if the accommodation doesn’t have a washing machine and you’ll be able to keep, move or resell it after your stay.
Before buying, check the model’s dimensions, the available space and the water connections.
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Another option to buy for accommodation where you still need to provide a microwave.
The product name lists six power levels. Before installation, check its dimensions, ventilation clearances, and the model’s voltage and plug type.
Yes, if the accommodation falls under the furnished rental rules in France covered by Decree No. 2015-981, published on Légifrance. The minimum list includes items such as hobs, an oven or microwave, and a fridge with a freezer or a fridge with a freezer compartment. Check which appliances are actually listed in the inventory.
No. A washing machine isn’t included in the minimum furnishings list under Decree No. 2015-981 for furnished accommodation in France, published on Légifrance. Check the listing and inventory to find out whether your accommodation has one.
Read your contract’s term, cancellation process, any amounts due and return conditions. For its own offer, BUT states that ending a contract early may incur charges of up to 40% of the remaining rent due. This figure doesn’t automatically apply to other rental providers.
Yes. The French Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. Keep your proof of purchase and the description of the specific appliance sold so you can refer to them if the product doesn’t conform to its description.