Termination by Registered Letter for Tenants France

What should the termination letter include?

The registered letter notifies the landlord officially of your decision to leave the property and starts the notice period. Always include the essential elements below and attach supporting documents when relevant.

• The sending date and the desired lease end date (respecting notice periods).
• Your full name, the property address and the rental contract reference.
• Payment situation (rent receipts, security deposit information if needed).
• Request to arrange the inventory of fixtures and proposed time slots.
• Your signature and, if necessary, a copy of an identity document.

Deadlines and reasons

Notice periods depend on the situation: unfurnished or furnished rental, high-pressure area, professional relocation, job loss, etc. Typically the notice is one month for a furnished property and three months for an unfurnished property, except for exceptions set by law or local agreement. For legal reasons (transfer, job loss, obtaining a first job, health reasons), the notice can be reduced to one month.^[1]

Common deadlines

• Unfurnished rental: standard notice of 3 months (unless in a pressured area or specific reduced reason).
• Furnished rental: 1 month notice.
• Reduced notice cases: 1 month with a legal reason or in a pressured area.

How to send the letter

Prepare the letter clearly, sign it and send it by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (LRAR). Sending by LRAR creates legal proof of notification and date of sending. You can also hand it over in person against the landlord's signature, but LRAR remains the safest method in case of dispute.

Practical actions to plan

• Draft the letter citing the contract and the desired departure date.
• Attach useful documents (receipts, reason evidence, copy of ID).
• Send by LRAR and keep the acknowledgment of receipt.
• Schedule the inventory of fixtures and the handover of keys before the lease end date.

FAQ

What proves the termination date?

The date on the acknowledgment of receipt of the registered mail is binding. If handed over in person, the landlord's dated signature can serve as proof.

Can I terminate without notice for health or relocation reasons?

Yes, certain legal reasons allow a reduced one-month notice: professional relocation, job loss, health reasons with proof, or rental in a pressured area.^[1]

What if the landlord refuses to acknowledge receipt?

Keep the postal proof of sending and, if necessary, contact the departmental conciliation commission or the judicial court to assert your rights.^[2]

How to

1. Check the lease clauses and the applicable notice period for your situation.
2. Write the letter specifying the sending date, the desired end date and your contact details.
3. Send the letter by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt and keep the receipt.
4. Arrange the exit inventory with the landlord and obtain confirmation of key return.
5. Return the keys, read meters and ensure the security deposit refund according to the inventory of fixtures.

Key takeaways

• Send by LRAR to establish the notice start date without ambiguity.
• Keep all proof documents (receipts, inventory, acknowledgments) in case of dispute.
• Verify whether a legal reason applies to reduce the notice to one month.

Help and Support / Resources

• [1] Service-public.fr - Notice and lease termination
• [2] Legifrance - Law n°89-462 of July 6, 1989
• [3] Service-public.fr - Sample termination letter

1. [1] Service-public.fr - Préavis et résiliation du bail
2. [2] Legifrance - Loi n°89-462 du 6 juillet 1989