Chapter 1. Overview & Legal Foundation
1-1. Three regimes governed by Loi n°89-462
The Loi n°89-462 du 6 juillet 1989 (commonly called Loi Mermaz, deeply amended by Loi Alur 2014 and Loi ELAN 2018) is the central statute for residential leases used as the tenant's principal residence in France. It distinguishes three regimes:
| Regime | French | Title of Loi 89-462 | Minimum term | Min. notice (tenant) | Min. notice (landlord) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bail nu (unfurnished) | Bail vide | Title Ier | 3 years (private landlord) / 6 years (legal entity) — art. 10 | 3 months (1 month in zone tendue) — art. 15-I | 6 months — art. 15-I |
| Bail meublé (furnished) | Bail meublé | Title Ier bis | 1 year (9 months for student) — art. 25-7 | 1 month — art. 25-8 | 3 months — art. 25-8 |
| Bail mobilité | Bail mobilité | Title Ier ter | 1 to 10 months (non-renewable) — art. 25-13 | 1 month — art. 25-14 | Cannot terminate early |
Out of scope of this bible: bail commercial (Code de commerce art. L.145-1 et seq.), bail rural (Code rural), bail de droit commun (Code civil 1709 — ex: secondary residence), location saisonnière (< 90 days, not a primary residence).
1-2. Authorities and oversight
Residential lease is a private contract — there is no government registration. However, the following bodies have a role:
| Body | Role | Statutory basis |
|---|---|---|
| CDC (Commission départementale de conciliation) | Free dispute-resolution before courts | Loi 89-462 art. 20 |
| ANIL / ADIL | Free legal information service for tenants and landlords | Code de la construction et de l'habitation (CCH) art. L.366-1 |
| DGCCRF | Consumer protection — abusive clauses | Code de la consommation art. L.221-1 |
| Préfecture / OPH | Encadrement des loyers, registration of tourist rentals | Loi 89-462 art. 17 (encadrement); CCH L.324-1-1 |
| Tribunal judiciaire (chambre des baux) | Litigation | Code de procédure civile art. 847-2 |
1-3. France-specific vs EU-common rules
| Topic | EU-common rule | French specificity |
|---|---|---|
| Energy performance | Directive (EU) 2018/844 EPBD | DPE — mandatory diagnostic, F/G rentals progressively banned (Loi Climat art. 160) |
| Consumer protection | Directive 93/13/EEC unfair terms | Code de la consommation art. L.212-1; specific list of clauses réputées non écrites in Loi 89-462 art. 4 |
| Personal data | GDPR (EU) 2016/679 | CNIL délibération n°2017-100 — specific KYC list for tenants |
| Anti-discrimination | Directive 2000/43/EC | Loi 89-462 art. 1 (closed list of permissible documents) |
Want to manage your lease compliance automatically? Try Scribe — your business compliance OS. https://mmoww.net/scribe/app/
Quick Decision Matrix
Navigate your lease situation in 5 seconds.
| Your Role | Your Situation | Priority Action | Go To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenant | Signing a new lease | Review key terms before signing | Chapter 3 |
| Tenant | Deposit dispute | Know your rights and timelines | Chapter 4 |
| Tenant | Repair or maintenance issue | Understand landlord obligations | Chapter 4 |
| Landlord | First rental property | Registration + legal requirements | Chapter 2 |
| Landlord | Ending a tenancy | Notice periods and procedures | Chapter 5 |
| Landlord | Rent increase | Legal limits and notice requirements | Chapter 4 |
5-second answer: Whether you're a landlord or tenant, start with Chapter 2 for the legal framework, then Chapter 3 for your specific obligations.