To kit out temporary accommodation, start by checking what’s already provided. Then compare renting, buying new or buying second-hand, but only for the appliances you’re missing. Renting may suit you if the commitment period, included services and return conditions match your stay. Buying means you own the appliance, while using what’s already there can save you from an unnecessary purchase or rental.
Whether you’re studying, on a work assignment or in a period of transition, the length of your stay can affect your choice of contract and whether you’ll want to keep an appliance afterwards. In information published on 17 December 2024, the National Consumer Institute (INC) cites a student moving for their studies as an example of a temporary need.
If you’d like someone else to handle certain jobs or set-up, compare the services actually included in the contract and the return conditions. Boulanger Location and HomeCycle list services alongside their offers. Check the terms for the specific plan and appliance you’re considering.
If your accommodation already includes some appliances, or there’s a launderette nearby, you can focus on what you still need. Action Logement describes temporary accommodation options and situations that may include a communal laundry room. Check the inventory and services at your own accommodation.
Your decision mainly depends on how long you’ll actually be staying, what’s already provided, and whether you’d prefer services, ownership or an organised return.
Worth considering: if you need an appliance for a set period and the commitment and exit terms fit the length of your stay.
Bear in mind: you’ll return the appliance and need to follow the contract’s return conditions; renting doesn’t make you the owner.
Worth considering: if you’d like to keep the appliance, take it with you or sell it after your stay.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to arrange its removal yourself and compare the seller’s protections with the services offered under a rental contract.
Worth considering: if a pre-owned appliance meets your needs and you can check its condition and the terms of sale.
Bear in mind: the legal guarantee of conformity applies differently to a sale by a business and a sale between private individuals.
Worth considering: for appliances that are already there and suit your needs, once you’ve checked the inventory and communal facilities.
Bear in mind: you’ll be choosing from the accommodation’s existing equipment. In particular, check whether there’s a laundry room before adding an appliance for washing clothes.
| What matters | What to check before choosing | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Length of stay and leaving date | Compare the initial commitment period and the earliest possible exit date with the length of your stay. Boulanger states that commitments range from 12 to 36 months, depending on the product. HomeCycle states that its standard plan has a minimum term of five years, with the option to leave after 13 months on the Option Liberté plan. Check the terms of the plan you choose. | If my leaving date is fixed, I want to avoid being tied in beyond my stay. Around 24% of consumers prioritise being able to leave by a certain date. |
| Total cost for your stay | Compare costs over the same period: upfront payment, monthly payments, options, delivery and exit terms for a rental; purchase price and arrangements for taking the appliance away if you buy. According to its FAQ, Boulanger Location’s first payment includes the initial contribution and the first monthly payment. | If I need to equip my accommodation for a few months, I want to compare the total amount I’ll pay rather than focus on a single monthly payment. Around 24% of consumers put the total cost first. |
| Repairs if something breaks | Distinguish between set-up, maintenance, repairs, replacement and the legal guarantee. Boulanger says its offer includes delivery, set-up and after-sales service; HomeCycle says repairs and replacement are covered. Check what the contract provides for your appliance. | If a breakdown disrupts my day-to-day life in temporary accommodation, I want to know who will arrange the repair and what’s covered. Around 19% of consumers prioritise breakdown cover. |
| Moving out and returning the appliance | For a rental, check the condition required on return, which accessories must be returned, collection arrangements and disconnection. The INC advises checking the required return condition, allowing for normal wear and tear; Boulanger also asks for accessories to be returned. If you buy, plan how you’ll keep, transport or resell the appliance. | If I don’t want to transport or store an appliance when I leave, I want to know how collection and return work before signing. Around 19% of consumers prioritise leaving without having to deal with an appliance. |
| What you actually need and available space | Check the inventory and communal facilities, and measure the space before renting or buying. For furnished accommodation covered by main-residence rules, including a mobility lease, the minimum requirements include cooking and refrigeration equipment, but not a washing machine. Service-Public.fr last checked its guidance on 6 March 2026. | If my accommodation is already partly equipped, I want to add only what’s missing and can fit in the available space. Around 14% of consumers prioritise having only the equipment they need. |
The commitment period, first payment, optional extras and exit terms can all affect the comparison. In information published on 17 December 2024, the INC points out that renting can end up costing more than buying the appliance.
Compare the expected costs over the full length of your stay, and distinguish the upfront payment from the monthly payments. Only factor in a possible resale if you have relevant information about the appliance in question.
Terms vary by plan. Boulanger states that the initial period ranges from 12 to 36 months, depending on the product, after which the plan becomes open-ended. HomeCycle states that its standard plan has a minimum term of five years, with the option to leave after 13 months on the Option Liberté plan.
Before signing up, check the earliest permitted exit date for the exact plan and compare it with your leaving date.
Return conditions may cover the appliance’s condition and its accessories. Collection doesn’t necessarily include disconnection.
Check the return terms in the contract, keep hold of the accessories and ask separately how collection and disconnection are arranged.
The legal guarantee of conformity also applies to second-hand goods sold by a business to a consumer. It doesn’t apply to sales between private individuals, according to Service-Public.fr.
Check the seller’s status, inspect the appliance and keep your purchase documents. The guarantee doesn’t cover every breakdown, whatever the cause.
If a repair isn’t covered by the applicable protection or by a commitment from the seller, you may have to arrange and pay for it yourself.
A rental service covering several categories of large domestic appliances, with stated terms of 12 to 36 months, depending on the product.
A rental service with a standard plan and an Option Liberté plan to suit different lengths of stay.
A manufacturer worth considering when comparing washing machines for smaller spaces.
These appliances are options to buy if something is missing; they don’t replace comparing rental with the equipment already provided.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re missing a dishwasher and want a countertop model with an integrated tank.
Stated capacity: 4 place settings. Integrated 5 L tank and 5+1 wash cycles.
The product name indicates that no plumbing connection is needed; the drain hose must run into a sink or a container for waste water.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your accommodation doesn’t have a washing machine and there’s room for a top-loading model.
Stated capacity: 6 kg. Stated width: 40,5 cm. The product details list 17 programmes, including quick cycles from 14 to 59 minutes.
The product details state a noise level of 79 dB(A) during the spin cycle. Installation requires a water supply, a drain and a stable, level surface.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your accommodation doesn’t have a microwave and its dimensions suit the available space.
Capacity: 20 L. Stated power: 700 W. The product details mention 6 pre-set menus, 11 power levels and a defrost function.
Stated dimensions: 440 × 319 × 259 mm. Check the clearance needed around the appliance before setting it up.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your accommodation doesn’t have a fridge and its capacity and width suit the available space.
Stated capacity: 92 L, with a stated 3 L freezer compartment. Stated width: 47 cm; reversible door. Stated energy rating: E.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your accommodation needs both a fridge and a freezer, and there’s enough space for this model.
Stated capacity: 227 L, split between 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer. Stated width: 54 cm; reversible door. Stated energy rating: E.
The product details advise leaving enough ventilation space around the appliance.
No. A washing machine isn’t on the minimum equipment list for furnished accommodation covered by main-residence rules, including a mobility lease. Service-Public.fr lists cooking and refrigeration equipment, among other items; its guidance was checked on 6 March 2026. Check the inventory to see what additional equipment is provided.
No. Boulanger Location’s FAQ says the first payment includes the initial contribution and the first monthly payment. Check the payment schedule so you count each payment only once.
No. Boulanger Location says it doesn’t offer an option to buy the appliance after the rental. Its offer requires the product and its accessories to be returned.
Not necessarily: routine maintenance and repairs for a fault are two different things. The INC recommends checking the maintenance and repair clauses, as well as the required condition on return. You should also follow the model’s instructions and any obligations in your contract.
Yes. If you buy from a professional seller as a consumer, the guarantee also covers second-hand or refurbished goods; according to Service-Public.fr, the fault must appear within two years of delivery. It doesn’t apply to sales between private individuals and doesn’t cover every breakdown, whatever the cause.
It depends on the offer and the terms of the plan. Boulanger says delivery and set-up are included; HomeCycle says collection is free at the end of the contract. Check separately whether disconnection is included, what access is needed to your accommodation and how collection works if you leave before the contract ends.