First Phrases

Renting a flat · Français

Renting a flat in French: 12 survival phrases

Ask about the rent, the bills, the deposit and the contract, arrange a viewing, and ask who to call when something breaks.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "vous" with agents and landlords. "Loyer" = rent, "dépôt de garantie" = deposit, "charges" = bills, "bail" = lease, "état des lieux" = move-in inspection. "Justificatif de domicile" (proof of address) is needed for many things, so ask for a "quittance de loyer" (rent receipt).

How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: loyer, charges, dépôt de garantie, bail, état des lieux, quittance de loyer. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Je cherche un appartement à louer.
    Say it like: zhuh shairsh an nah-par-tuh-MON ah loo-AY
    I'm looking for a flat to rent.
    Register: Neutral.
  2. 02Polite
    L'appartement est-il toujours disponible ?
    Say it like: lah-par-tuh-MON eh-TEEL too-ZHOOR dees-poh-NEEBL
    Is the flat still available?
    Register: Formal inversion.
  3. 03Polite
    Quel est le montant du loyer par mois ?
    Say it like: kel ay luh mon-TON dew lwah-YAY par MWAH
    How much is the rent per month?
    Register: Formal.
  4. 04Polite
    Les charges sont-elles comprises ?
    Say it like: lay SHARZH son-TEL kon-PREEZ
    Are the bills (charges) included?
    Register: Formal inversion.
  5. 05Polite
    À combien s'élève le dépôt de garantie ?
    Say it like: ah kom-BYAN say-LEV luh day-POH duh gah-ron-TEE
    How much is the deposit?
    Register: Formal.
  6. 06Polite
    Quelle est la durée du bail ?
    Say it like: kel ay lah dew-RAY dew BYE
    How long is the lease?
    Register: "Bail" is said like English "bye".
  7. 07Polite
    Est-ce que je pourrais visiter l'appartement ? Quand ?
    Say it like: es-kuh zhuh poo-RAY vee-zee-TAY lah-par-tuh-MON? kon
    Could I visit the flat? When?
    Register: "Pourrais" softens the request.
  8. 08Polite
    L'appartement est-il meublé ?
    Say it like: lah-par-tuh-MON eh-TEEL muh-BLAY
    Is the flat furnished?
    Register: Formal inversion.
  9. 09Polite
    Les animaux sont-ils acceptés ?
    Say it like: lay zah-nee-MOH son-TEEL ak-sep-TAY
    Are pets allowed?
    Register: Formal inversion.
  10. 10Polite
    Pourrez-vous me fournir des quittances de loyer ?
    Say it like: poo-RAY-voo muh foor-NEER day kee-TONSS duh lwah-YAY
    Will you be able to give me rent receipts?
    Register: Useful as proof of address.
  11. 11Polite
    Pouvez-vous me donner une copie du bail ?
    Say it like: poo-VAY-voo muh doh-NAY oon koh-PEE dew BYE
    Could you give me a copy of the lease?
    Register: Polite.
  12. 12Polite
    Qui dois-je appeler si quelque chose tombe en panne ?
    Say it like: kee dwahzh-uh ah-puh-LAY see KEL-kuh shohz tomb on PAN
    Who do I call if something breaks down?
    Register: Formal.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start when renting a flat in French?

Start with: "Je cherche un appartement à louer." (I'm looking for a flat to rent.)

Should I use informal or formal French when renting a flat?

Use "vous" with agents and landlords. "Loyer" = rent, "dépôt de garantie" = deposit, "charges" = bills, "bail" = lease, "état des lieux" = move-in inspection. "Justificatif de domicile" (proof of address) is needed for many things, so ask for a "quittance de loyer" (rent receipt).

How do I ask how much the rent is in French?

Try: "Quel est le montant du loyer par mois ?" (How much is the rent per month?)

Same errand, another language

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French, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat

All 5 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are in.
  2. Read the twelve phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/rent/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint