In your first studio flat in France, check the tenancy agreement and inventory before buying anything. Under the decree of 31 July 2015 on furnished accommodation, the minimum list includes a fridge and an oven or microwave, but not a washing machine. Then choose according to the space you have and how you’ll use each appliance: a small fridge needs to hold your usual shopping, a washing machine requires suitable connections, and a combination microwave is only worth considering if you’ll use its extra cooking functions.
Check the tenancy agreement and inventory to see which appliances are already there. For anything missing, first think about food storage and meal preparation, then check whether you can install a washing machine. Measure each space before choosing an appliance size.
Compare the inventory with the minimum list set out in France under the decree of 31 July 2015. This includes cooking hobs, an oven or microwave, and a fridge that meets the requirements for its cold compartment. A washing machine isn’t on the list, so check whether one is provided.
A compact fridge may suit you if its capacity matches your shopping habits. When it comes to meals, decide whether you mainly need to reheat food or also want a grill or oven-style cooking before making room for a combination microwave.
Start by checking what’s already in the property, then compare appliance sizes and features with your everyday routine.
| Priority | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances already provided | Read the tenancy agreement and inventory. For a furnished rental in France, compare the inventory with the minimum list in the decree of 31 July 2015, particularly the requirements for food storage and cooking. | I’d rather find out what’s already provided before choosing an additional appliance. |
| Food storage | Measure the space and allow for clearance. Compare fridge capacity with how often you shop, and check the specifications of the compartment for frozen food. UFC-Que Choisir lists a tabletop fridge as one option for a studio flat. | If I only buy a little at a time, a small capacity may be enough. If I store more, capacity matters as much as the space the appliance takes up. |
| Laundry | Check for a water supply, drainage, a suitable socket and a level, stable floor, as recommended by UFC-Que Choisir. Choose the capacity to suit your usual laundry load too: a drum that’s too small could mean more wash cycles. | I’d like to do my washing at home, provided the studio can accommodate a machine and its capacity suits my laundry loads. |
| Meal preparation | Check the available space and the clearances specified for the appliance. A basic model can reheat and defrost food; combination models also offer grill and fan-assisted cooking functions, as described by UFC-Que Choisir. | If I mainly reheat meals, those extra functions aren’t a priority. If I cook in an oven but don’t have room for a separate one, they could come in handy. |
| Running costs | Compare the relevant details on the energy labels of appliances in the same category. ADEME recommends using them as a guide for fridges, ovens and washing machines; it also highlights the durability index for washing machines. | I want to take the stated energy consumption into account and, for a washing machine, use another indicator to help assess durability. |
In a furnished rental in France, the decree of 31 July 2015 sets out minimum requirements, including equipment for food storage and cooking. You could end up buying an appliance that’s already provided.
Check the tenancy agreement and inventory rather than assuming what’s included just because the property is described as a studio flat.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that a drum that’s too small may mean more wash cycles, while an oversized machine that’s only partly full can waste water and electricity.
Once you’ve confirmed that installation is possible, choose a capacity to suit your usual laundry load and how often you wash.
Dimensions aren’t the only consideration. UFC-Que Choisir points out that you’ll also need a water supply, drainage, a compliant socket with sufficient power, and a level, stable floor.
Check all these requirements, along with the clearance needed to use your chosen model, before ordering.
The grill and fan-assisted cooking functions described by UFC-Que Choisir may be less useful if you mainly use your microwave for reheating.
Consider whether these features would genuinely save you from installing a separate oven. If not, compare basic models that fit your space.
These Joybuy options cover three different needs: keeping food fresh, reheating meals and doing your laundry at home. Compare their capacities and dimensions with the inventory and the space available in your studio flat.
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To keep fresh and frozen food in two separate compartments, check that this size will fit in your kitchen. The model name specifies 153 L for the fridge, 74 L for the freezer and a width of 54 cm. It also mentions Low Frost, a reversible door and energy class E. Measure the height and allow for the required clearances before deciding where to put it.
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This model reheats food and also has a grill function. Its name specifies a 20 L capacity and 700 W microwave power. If you plan to cook in an oven, don’t assume the grill will replace an oven’s functions. Also check how much ventilation space the appliance needs.
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Compare the stated 8 kg capacity with the amount of laundry you usually wash. Before choosing this model for a studio flat, check its dimensions and the clearances it needs. Also check the water supply, drainage, socket and floor stability, as set out in the installation guidance from UFC-Que Choisir.
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This 45 L model is designed for limited storage needs and a small space. The model name mentions energy class E, adjustable feet and a toughened glass shelf. Check that the capacity suits your shopping habits, and look at the specifications of the cold compartment before storing frozen food in it.
Check the tenancy agreement and inventory first. In France, the decree of 31 July 2015 requires furnished accommodation to include a fridge and freezer, or at least a fridge with a compartment that can reach −6 °C or below, as well as an oven or a microwave. So a microwave isn’t necessarily the appliance provided.
No. A washing machine isn’t on the minimum furniture list for furnished accommodation set out in France under the decree of 31 July 2015. Check the property inventory to see whether one is provided.
First, check that there’s a water supply, drainage, a compliant socket with sufficient power, and a level, stable floor. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends installing the machine in a frost-free room. Then compare the model’s dimensions and capacity with your available space and usual laundry loads.
Choose a combination model if you’ll use the grill or fan-assisted cooking function and these features mean you won’t need a separate oven. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these functions from those of a basic microwave. If you mainly reheat food, first check whether a basic model will do the job.
Compare the relevant details on the energy labels of appliances in the same category. ADEME recommends using the label as a guide for fridges, ovens and washing machines. Also take into account the capacity you actually need.