Frasa
SituationsGet the app (opens the App Store in a new tab)

French · Home & repairs · Elementary

Questions to ask when viewing a flat in France

Ask what the rent covers (“Les charges sont comprises ?”), how the flat is heated (“Le chauffage est électrique ou au gaz ?”), whether it’s quiet (“C'est calme ici ?”) and when it’s free (“Je peux emménager quand ?”). Have your rental file ready: in big cities, good flats often go quickly.

Try it · about two minutes

On a flat viewing you ask about the rent, the heating, the noise and when you could move in.

Sound on: the estate agent speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. Estate agent

    Entrez, je vous en prie.

    Please, come in.

    You

    Bonjour, je viens pour la visite.

    Hello, I’m here for the viewing.

  2. Estate agent

    Prenez votre temps.

    Take your time.

    You

    Le loyer est de combien ?

    How much is the rent?

  3. Estate agent

    Le loyer est de six cents euros par mois.

    The rent is six hundred euros a month.

    You

    Les charges sont comprises ?

    Are the charges included?

  4. Estate agent

    Les charges comprennent l'eau froide et l'entretien des parties communes. Et voici le séjour, très lumineux.

    The charges cover cold water and the upkeep of the shared areas. And this is the living room, full of light.

    You

    Le chauffage est électrique ou au gaz ?

    Is the heating electric or gas?

  5. The agent says the heating is electric and the bedroom looks onto a quiet courtyard. The tenant’s furniture will leave with them.

    You

    Je peux emménager quand ?

    When can I move in?

  6. Estate agent

    Le locataire actuel part vendredi.

    The current tenant is leaving on Friday.

    You

    Ce logement me plaît.

    I like this place.

Key phrases

  • C'est encore disponible ?

    Is it still available?

  • Le loyer est de combien ?

    How much is the rent?

  • Les charges sont comprises ?

    Are the charges included?

  • Quelles charges ne sont pas comprises ?

    Which charges aren’t included?

  • Le chauffage est électrique ou au gaz ?

    Is the heating electric or gas?

  • C'est calme ici ?

    Is it quiet here?

  • C'est meublé ?

    Is it furnished?

  • Je peux emménager quand ?

    When can I move in?

  • Vous pouvez me parler du quartier ?

    Can you tell me about the neighbourhood?

  • Je peux vous fournir une attestation de mon employeur.

    I can provide a letter from my employer.

Good to know in France

From viewing to keys

  1. 1

    Bring your rental file (dossier): ID, recent payslips, and often a guarantor (garant).

  2. 2

    If your file is accepted, you sign the lease (le bail).

  3. 3

    On moving-in day you check the flat room by room with the landlord or agent (l’état des lieux).

CC or HC

Listings give the rent charges comprises (CC), with building costs included, or hors charges (HC), without. Ask what the charges cover.

Quelles charges ne sont pas comprises ?

Which charges aren’t included?

The energy rating

Listings show an energy rating from A to G (le DPE). It’s a quick clue to how warm the flat stays and how high the heating bills may be.

More situations in French

All situations in French

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.