Welcome to Long Term Rentals in France
Finding the right property for a long term rental in France can be quite a challenge. This web site makes it easy for tenants and property owners to find each other.
About Long-term rentals in France
More and more people are coming from all over the world to discover life in France. Whether to learn French, learn about wine, enjoy the sunshine, write a book, start a business, buy a property or simply try a different life for a while, hundreds of newcomers come to spend a few months or a longer period to experience a different life. Finding a long term rental in France is an important first step in experiencing life in this varied and culturally very different country.
The standard French rental contract lasts for three years and is for unfurnished properties. Holiday lets however are furnished and are valid for anything from one week up to six months.
On this site we propose properties that are furnished and that fall under the category of holiday rentals. We specifically feature information from owners and property managers that make them relevant for long term lets. There are clear differences in requirements for Summer and Winter lettings so, as an example, you will be able to see if the property is heated in Winter, if there Wifi or another type of internet connection so you have contact to the outside world, if there is satellite TV etc.
Many houses that are set up for holiday rentals are not suitable for long term rentals over the Winter period, particularly when it comes to heating. Some touristy towns that are very lively in Summer become ghost towns in Winter, some houses have no internet connection or phone line which doesn't matter much on a week's holiday. This all means that searching for long term rentals on a holiday letting site can be a disappointing experience.
A note on heating. Even in the South of France it does get cold in Winter and houses designed to keep out the sun are not ideal when you are living here for a longer period.A little anecdote from personal experience – I rented a house in early October when it was still sunny and warm but soon noticed that the neat square hole in the beautiful old stone above the door was letting in rather a lot of cold air which whistled up the spiral stairs to my bedroom. I asked the owner what the plan was for the hole – was it going to be a window or simply blocked up? The answer was "Oh no, that's really good for ventilation". They had clearly never visited in Winter!
That's why on this site you will find details of the heating systems provided in a house and other information available on double glazing, insulation etc. so you can work out the likely costs of heating if the heating is not included in the price.
