français · B1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Housing and renting
Discuss a lease, charges, repairs, neighbors, and moving.
Understand the choice
Housing problems become manageable when roles and documents are explicit. Identify the locataire and propriétaire, separate loyer from charges, and keep written evidence of l’état des lieux and repairs.
Core rule: Payer un loyer, signer un bail, faire l’état des lieux, and signaler une fuite name key rental actions.
Notice it in context
Le propriétaire doit réparer la fuite avant notre emménagement.
The landlord must repair the leak before we move in.
Propriétaire is responsible after devoir; fuite is the required repair; avant + noun places the deadline.
Le bail précise le montant du loyer et des charges.
The lease specifies the amount of rent and service charges.
Bail is the contract; loyer and charges are separate costs.
La locataire signale une fuite pendant l’état des lieux.
The tenant reports a leak during the inspection.
Locataire takes feminine la here; état des lieux names the formal inspection.
What to remember
- Un bail has the irregular plural des baux.
- Déménagement is moving out/in as an event; emménagement specifically means moving into a new home.
Common trap: Do not use location only for a physical location; in French, la location commonly means renting.