Your accomodation - useful advice

Home insurance
According to French law, all tenants must take out home insurance. The type of risks covered must be mentioned on the insurance certificate (fire and water damage, etc.). Before making the inventory, the insurance certificate must be provided to the landlord when the keys are handed over. Please note that the landlord has the right to cancel the lease if the tenant has not taken out home insurance.

Maintenance fees
These are the taxes and charges that the landlord passes on to the tenant: electricity, water, heating, etc.
Before signing the contract, remember to check that water and heating are included in the overall charges, otherwise, you will have to pay these charges in addition to the rent. 

Caution
Before moving in, you will pay a deposit to cover the non-payment of rent and charges but also to cover any work to be done in the  at the end of the lease. The amount of the deposit may not exceed one month's rent (excluding charges) and does not apply when the rent is payable in advance over a period of more than two months. You must recover this deposit no later than 2 months after handing over the keys to the owner.

Guarantee
The landlord has the right to request a personal guarantee: someone well known to you (e.g. a family member) undertakes, in writing, to pay rent on your behalf if you are unable to.

Agency fees
If you rent your house via an estate agency, you will have to pay fees that usually correspond to 15% of the annual rent (excluding charges).