French You’ll Need When Moving House in France
Moving house in France involves much more than unpacking boxes. During your first few weeks, you may need to finalize a rental contract, complete an état des lieux, arrange internet service, contact your landlord or agency, learn your local garbage rules, introduce yourself to neighbors, and update your address with different organizations.
For many foreign residents, these everyday tasks can feel more stressful than the move itself. Even if your French is good enough for shopping or ordering food, housing-related conversations often include unfamiliar vocabulary, formal expressions, and paperwork that you may not have encountered before.
The good news is that you don’t need perfect French to manage these situations. Learning a small set of practical phrases can help you ask questions, understand important information, and communicate politely with real estate agents, landlords, service providers, neighbors, and administrative staff.
In this guide, you’ll learn 40 essential French phrases for seven common situations you’ll encounter when moving house in France. Each section also includes useful vocabulary, a short dialogue, and practical context to help you prepare for real conversations.
Table of Contents
What Do You Need to Handle When Moving House in France?
When moving house in France, residents commonly need to:
- Rent or finalize an apartment
- Understand the rental contract and état des lieux
- Set up internet and Wi-Fi
- Talk to a landlord or property manager
- Introduce themselves to neighbors
- Learn local garbage and recycling rules
- Update their address with public services and other organizations
These situations use practical French that isn’t always covered in beginner textbooks. Learning the most useful phrases in advance can save time, reduce misunderstandings, and make the transition to your new home much smoother.
Renting or Finalizing Your Apartment
Whether you’re viewing apartments or preparing to sign a lease, you’ll probably speak with a real estate agent or landlord several times. Knowing a few common expressions will help you ask about rent, charges, availability, furnishings, and move-in dates more confidently.
For listening practice, try FrenchPod101’s Looking for an Apartment in France, which features a conversation about finding an apartment.
Common Situations
You may need to:
- Ask about the rent
- Check whether charges are included
- Confirm when the apartment is available
- Ask whether it is furnished
- Schedule a viewing
- Confirm that the property is still available
6 Essential French Phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Quel est le montant du loyer ? | How much is the rent? |
| L’appartement est toujours disponible ? | Is the apartment still available? |
| Je voudrais visiter l’appartement. | I’d like to view the apartment. |
| Les charges sont comprises ? | Are the charges included? |
| À partir de quand est-il disponible ? | When is it available from? |
| Est-ce un logement meublé ? | Is it a furnished property? |
Dialogue Example
Agent
L’appartement est disponible à partir du premier novembre.
The apartment is available from November 1st.
Resident
Quel est le montant du loyer ?
How much is the rent?
Agent
Le loyer est de 900 euros par mois, charges comprises.
The rent is 900 euros per month, including charges.
Key Vocabulary
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| le loyer | rent |
| les charges | building charges / service charges |
| un logement | housing / a property |
| meublé | furnished |
| une visite | a viewing |
Understanding Your Rental Contract and État des Lieux
French rental paperwork has a few terms that are especially important to recognize, including bail for the lease, dépôt de garantie for the security deposit, and état des lieux for the condition report completed when you enter and leave the property.
For a principal residence, the rules differ depending on the type of rental. For example, the maximum security deposit is generally one month’s rent excluding charges for an unfurnished rental and two months for a furnished rental. The état des lieux is also an important document because it records the condition of the property and its equipment. You can check the current rules on the official Service-Public.fr guide to furnished and unfurnished leases.
Common Situations
You’ll often need to:
- Ask about the lease duration
- Confirm the security deposit
- Understand what the charges cover
- Complete the état des lieux
- Ask about the notice period
- Clarify a clause you don’t understand
6 Essential French Phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Quelle est la durée du bail ? | How long is the lease? |
| Quel est le montant du dépôt de garantie ? | How much is the security deposit? |
| Qu’est-ce qui est compris dans les charges ? | What is included in the charges? |
| Quand faisons-nous l’état des lieux ? | When do we do the condition report? |
| Quelle est la durée du préavis ? | How long is the notice period? |
| Pouvez-vous m’expliquer cette clause ? | Can you explain this clause to me? |
Dialogue Example
Resident
Quel est le montant du dépôt de garantie ?
How much is the security deposit?
Agent
Pour ce logement meublé, il est de deux mois de loyer hors charges.
For this furnished property, it is two months’ rent excluding charges.
Key Vocabulary
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| le bail | lease |
| le dépôt de garantie | security deposit |
| l’état des lieux | condition report / inventory |
| le préavis | notice period |
| une clause | clause / provision |
Setting Up Internet and Wi-Fi
After moving in, getting internet access may be one of your first priorities. Depending on the address and provider, you may need to compare plans, check whether fiber is available, arrange an appointment, or wait for a technician to activate or install the service.
Common Situations
You may need to:
- Compare internet plans
- Check whether fiber is available
- Ask about installation fees
- Confirm the monthly price
- Schedule a technician visit
- Ask whether the plan has a minimum commitment period
6 Essential French Phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je voudrais souscrire un abonnement Internet. | I’d like to sign up for an internet plan. |
| La fibre est-elle disponible à cette adresse ? | Is fiber available at this address? |
| Quels sont les frais d’installation ? | What are the installation fees? |
| Combien coûte l’abonnement par mois ? | How much is the plan per month? |
| Quand le technicien peut-il passer ? | When can the technician come? |
| Y a-t-il une durée d’engagement ? | Is there a minimum commitment period? |
Dialogue Example
Customer
La fibre est-elle disponible à cette adresse ?
Is fiber available at this address?
Representative
Oui. Un technicien peut passer mardi prochain.
Yes. A technician can come next Tuesday.
Key Vocabulary
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| un abonnement | subscription / plan |
| la fibre | fiber-optic internet |
| les frais d’installation | installation fees |
| un technicien / une technicienne | technician |
| l’engagement | commitment period |
Talking to Your Landlord or Property Manager
Sooner or later, you may need to contact your landlord, real estate agency, or property manager. Common reasons include reporting a leak, asking for a repair, explaining that the heating is not working, or checking when someone can come to the property.
Common Situations
You may need to:
- Report a problem in the apartment
- Report a water leak
- Explain that an appliance or the heating is not working
- Ask for someone to come
- Confirm when a repair can be carried out
- Ask for an update
6 Essential French Phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je voudrais signaler un problème dans l’appartement. | I’d like to report a problem in the apartment. |
| Il y a une fuite d’eau. | There’s a water leak. |
| Le chauffage ne fonctionne pas. | The heating isn’t working. |
| Pouvez-vous envoyer quelqu’un ? | Can you send someone? |
| Quand pouvez-vous intervenir ? | When can you come and deal with it? |
| Merci de me tenir au courant. | Please keep me updated. |
Dialogue Example
Resident
Il y a une fuite d’eau dans la cuisine.
There’s a water leak in the kitchen.
Property Manager
D’accord. Nous allons envoyer quelqu’un cet après-midi.
All right. We’ll send someone this afternoon.
Key Vocabulary
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| le propriétaire / la propriétaire | landlord / owner |
| l’agence immobilière | real estate agency |
| une fuite d’eau | water leak |
| une réparation | repair |
| intervenir | to come and deal with a problem / intervene |
Talking to Neighbors in France
Introducing yourself to your neighbors isn’t a formal requirement, and customs vary by building and neighborhood. Still, a simple greeting when you meet can be a friendly way to start off well, especially after a move when there may have been extra noise in the building.
Common Situations
You may need to:
- Introduce yourself
- Say that you have just moved in
- Say that you live next door
- Apologize for moving noise
4 Essential French Phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Bonjour, je suis votre nouveau voisin / votre nouvelle voisine. | Hello, I’m your new neighbor. |
| Je viens d’emménager à côté. | I’ve just moved in next door. |
| Enchanté(e). | Nice to meet you. |
| Désolé(e) pour le bruit du déménagement. | Sorry about the noise from the move. |
Dialogue Example
Resident
Bonjour, je suis votre nouvelle voisine. Je viens d’emménager à côté.
Hello, I’m your new neighbor. I’ve just moved in next door.
Neighbor
Enchanté ! Bienvenue dans l’immeuble.
Nice to meet you! Welcome to the building.
Key Vocabulary
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| un voisin / une voisine | neighbor |
| emménager | to move in |
| le déménagement | move / moving house |
| l’immeuble | apartment building |
Understanding Garbage and Recycling Rules
Garbage collection and sorting rules in France are organized locally, so collection schedules, bin colors, and arrangements for bulky waste can vary from one municipality to another. Service-Public.fr recommends checking the sorting guide provided by your mairie or local authority, and notes that household waste must be sorted according to the local collection rules. See the official guide to household waste and sorting for current general information.
Common Situations
You’ll need to:
- Find out when household waste is collected
- Locate the recycling bins
- Work out which bin an item belongs in
- Ask whether an item can be recycled
- Find out how to dispose of bulky items
- Know when bins should be put out
6 Essential French Phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Quel jour passent les poubelles ? | What day is the garbage collected? |
| Où sont les bacs de tri ? | Where are the recycling bins? |
| Dans quelle poubelle va ceci ? | Which bin does this go in? |
| Est-ce que ça se recycle ? | Can this be recycled? |
| Où puis-je déposer les encombrants ? | Where can I dispose of bulky waste? |
| Faut-il sortir les poubelles ce soir ? | Do we need to put the bins out tonight? |
Dialogue Example
Resident
Quel jour passent les poubelles ?
What day is the garbage collected?
Neighbor
Les ordures ménagères passent le mardi matin.
Household waste is collected on Tuesday morning.
Key Vocabulary
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| les ordures ménagères | household waste |
| le tri | sorting |
| un bac de tri | recycling / sorting bin |
| les encombrants | bulky waste |
| la collecte | collection |
Updating Your Address in France
Unlike in Japan, moving house in France does not normally mean registering your new residential address at a city office. Instead, you need to update the organizations that use your address, such as tax authorities, social-security bodies, energy providers, your bank, insurer, employer, and any other services you use.
Service-Public.fr provides a free online change-of-address service that can send your new details to several participating public services and organizations at the same time, including tax services, social-security bodies, France Travail, certain energy providers, and the vehicle-registration service. Other organizations may still need to be contacted separately.
Common Situations
You may need to:
- Report a change of address
- Give your new address
- Ask what proof or documents are required
- Check whether you can update the address online
- Confirm that your record has been updated
- Ask whether another organization must be contacted separately
6 Essential French Phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je voudrais signaler un changement d’adresse. | I’d like to report a change of address. |
| Voici ma nouvelle adresse. | Here is my new address. |
| Quels justificatifs dois-je fournir ? | What supporting documents do I need to provide? |
| Est-ce que je peux faire le changement d’adresse en ligne ? | Can I change my address online? |
| Mon dossier a-t-il été mis à jour ? | Has my record been updated? |
| Dois-je contacter cet organisme séparément ? | Do I need to contact this organization separately? |
Dialogue Example
Resident
Je voudrais signaler un changement d’adresse.
I’d like to report a change of address.
Staff Member
Bien sûr. Pouvez-vous me donner votre nouvelle adresse ?
Of course. Can you give me your new address?
Key Vocabulary
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| un changement d’adresse | change of address |
| un justificatif | supporting document / proof |
| un justificatif de domicile | proof of address |
| un dossier | file / record |
| un organisme | organization / agency |
For a broader overview of the French you’ll need for housing, administration, banking, healthcare, and other parts of resident life, see The Ultimate French Guide for Living in France: 160+ Essential Phrases for Visa, Immigration, Moving & Daily Life.
You may also find Moving to France Checklist: 8 Essential Steps (+ French Phrases for Every Situation) useful if you’re still working through the practical tasks involved in settling into your new home.
Learn Daily French with FrenchPod101
Knowing individual phrases is useful, but being able to recognize them in a real conversation is even more important. Listening regularly helps you get used to natural speaking speed, common vocabulary, and the expressions you’ll hear when dealing with housing and everyday services.
FrenchPod101 can help you prepare with:
- Beginner-friendly French lessons
- Native-speaker audio
- Practical French vocabulary lists
- The Living in France lesson pathway
- Listening practice based on real situations
- Downloadable lesson materials for review
Start with the situation you’re most likely to face next. Practice a few phrases, listen to a related dialogue, and repeat the expressions aloud until they feel familiar.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Moving house in France comes with plenty of practical tasks, from signing a lease and completing the état des lieux to arranging internet service, learning local waste rules, and updating your address. These situations can feel complicated at first, but a small amount of practical French can make them much easier to handle.
Start by learning the expressions you’ll use most often, then practice them in realistic conversations. The more familiar these situations become, the more confident you’ll feel navigating everyday life in your new home.
Ready to go beyond memorizing phrases? Explore FrenchPod101 for dialogue-based lessons, vocabulary lists, listening practice, and structured learning pathways designed to help you communicate in real-life situations.
Question for You
Which moving-related situation in France has been the most challenging for you: rental paperwork, the état des lieux, setting up services, talking to neighbors, garbage rules, or updating your address?
Leave a comment below and let us know. We’ll recommend lessons and resources to help you feel more confident in that situation.
