Guide to renting commercial property in France

Planning to start a business in France? You’ll have a long to-do list to work through, as there’s a lot to get sorted. But one of the first things you’ll need is to find commercial premises, and it’s likely that you’ll be renting rather than buying until you’ve got your new business off the ground.

In this essential guide, we’ll run through everything you need to know about renting commercial property in France as a UK entrepreneur.

Whether you’re a startup, SME or larger company, we’ll give you the lowdown on how renting commercial property works in France. This includes the fees, lease types, laws, tax info and much more.

We’ll even show you a cost-effective way to manage your business finances in France. Open a Wise Business account and you can hold, send, receive and spend 40+ currencies including EUR, all in one powerful online business account.

Types of commercial leases in France

Let’s start with a look at the types of commercial leases commonly used in French towns and cities. These include:¹

• Bail commercial (commercial lease)- the most common type of lease used by businesses in France, it has a minimum term of 9 years and the tenant usually has the right to renew.
• Bail dérogatoire (short-term lease) - this temporary kind of lease lasts for a maximum of 3 years, and is designed for pop-up stores or temporary projects. It doesn’t offer the same protections for tenants as the standard commercial lease, and also can’t be renewed unless a bail commercial is used.
• Bail professionnel (professional lease) - this is designed for professions such as lawyers, doctors and consultants, and typically lasts for 6 years.

Terms and conditions for all commercial leases are set out in the French Commercial Code, details of which are available here.

What is a 3 6 9 lease in France?

When you start to look into commercial leases in France, you’re likely to come across something known as a 3 6 9 lease (or 3/6/9 lease).

This isn’t actually a different type of lease than we’ve covered already. It simply refers to the standard bail commercial (commercial lease), but the numbers refer to the lease being reviewed and renewed every 3 years. So it would be reviewed after 3, 6 and eventually 9 years.²

If you do decide to terminate your lease as a tenant, you can decide at one of these 3 year intervals - but you must give at least 6 months notice before your desired end date.

Key things to know about commercial lease agreements in France

Agreements are nearly always written in French

As you may expect, lease agreements in France are nearly always written in French. This means that you’ll need the assistance of a translator and/or multi-lingual legal professional to help you (unless you happen to be fluent in French yourself).

Your landlord should give you a statement of charges

Landlords are required by law to give you a detailed statement of charges relating to the property, known as a décret Pinel.¹ This can include things like taxes, common charges and insurance.

Make sure you do actually receive this statement, and check it carefully so that you know exactly what costs you’re responsible for and can budget accordingly.

Maintenance responsibilities

It’s usually the case that the landlord is responsible for structural repairs and major works, while tenants are responsible for minor maintenance to the property.¹ However, you should check the terms in the lease.

A lease premium (pas-de-porte) may apply

You may be asked for an additional ‘entry payment’ at the start of the tenancy. This is known as a pas-de-porte, and it’s designed as a form of goodwill payment or compensation for properties which have a particularly advantageous or busy location, or lots of existing customers.¹

As with all the terms and conditions involved in tenancy agreements in France, it’s important to get professional or legal advice so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

Long leases must be registered with the land registry

If a lease on commercial property lasts 12 years or more, the written agreement must be registered with the land registry.¹ It must also be registered with the tax authorities, and you’ll need to take out relevant insurance policies such as public liability and damage caused by fire and flooding.

💡 See our full guide to starting a business in France🇫🇷

Do I need insurance to rent a commercial property in France?

In France, it’s typical for the landlord to insure the building, and for the tenant to take out insurance for the contents. This would mean the goods, merchandise, furniture and equipment kept in the building. The landlord may recoup the cost of insuring the building through service charges.¹

In the case of long leases (of 12 years or more), the tenant will be required to take out more extensive insurance for the building.¹

How rent works on commercial properties in France

Rent is typically paid on a quarterly rather than monthly basis in France, and in advance. However, you may agree to different terms with your landlord.

Under the French Commercial Code, the rent on commercial leases can be reviewed every 3 years - either by the landlord or the tenant. When leases are renewed, rent can be capped or fixed at market value. If the rent is increased, the law stipulates it can’t go up by more than 10% per year.³

It’s also useful to know that most rental agreements contain pre-agreed annual increases in rent, in line with a particular index depending on the property type.

For example, there is the ILC index (Indice des Loyers Commerciaux) for retail and commercial use. For office space, the ILAT index (Indice des Loyers des Activités Tertiaires) is used.¹

It’s worth looking these up to make sure you understand what kind of annual rent increases you can expect.

How much does commercial property cost to rent in France?

The actual rent for commercial property in France will vary depending on location, premises type, amenities and size.

Some parts of the country are more expensive than others. As you’d imagine, Paris and the Île-de-France region tend to have the highest rents, while areas like Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg could be more affordable options for small businesses and startups on a budget.

To give you an idea of cost, here’s a quick look at the average rent per square metre for office space in France:⁴

City/region	Average rent per square metre
Paris	€336 to €614 EUR (8e arrondissement the most expensive)
Bordeaux	€226 EUR
Lyon	€217 EUR
Nantes	€179 EUR
Marseille	€178 EUR
Lille	€177 EUR
Strasbourg	€165 EUR
Toulouse	€152 EUR

Other costs to consider

Alongside the rent, there are usually other costs involved in leasing a commercial property in France.

These include:

• Notary or agent fees - for drawing up the lease agreement
• Estate agent fees - if you found the property through an agent, you may have to pay their fees (although the landlord may be responsible for these)
• Legal fees- if you use the services of commercial property solicitor (which is recommended), this will come with a cost
• Utility connection fees
• Insurance
• Pas-de-porte/entry payment - if stipulated in your lease agreement
• Condition survey costs - you may want to have a professional survey carried out before taking on the lease, to flag up any structural or other issues with the property

You may also need to pay a rental deposit upfront in order to secure the tenancy.

The exact costs of all of the above will vary, depending on the region of France you’re in and other particulars relating to the property itself. It’s advisable to get a few different quotes and do lots of research, just to make sure you’re not overpaying.

How to rent a commercial property in France - step-by-step

Now, let’s run through the main steps involved in renting commercial property in France:

1. Prepare your ‘dossier’- this is a file of documents used by landlords and agents to consider candidates and applications. It should include proof of identity, financial stability and business information. We’ll run through what you might need shortly.
2. Make sure your business is registered with the National Register of Companies (RNE) or Registre National des entreprises. Once you’ve done this, you’ll get your SIRET number - this will be required to rent a commercial property.
3. Start your search - working with a commercial real estate agent will be helpful
4. Appoint professionals - you might need a translator and/or a multi-lingual commercial property solicitor to help you with negotiations and understanding the terms of lease agreements and other documents.
5. Negotiate with the landlord on rent and other terms
6. Review and sign the lease agreement - it’s strongly recommended to have a French-speaking solicitor check over the terms of the lease before signing
7. Take out contents and any other required insurance
8. Pay the deposit and any upfront rent or pas-de-porte payments as agreed in the contract
9. Prepare to move into the property, including arranging utilities and telecommunications connections if needed.

What documents do I need?

The following documents may be required either as part of the *dossier *you’ll give to landlords or agents, or when signing a lease agreement:⁵

• Proof of ID, such as your passport
• Proof of residential address
• The SIRET number, certificate and other registration documents for your business
• Your residency documents, such as visa or work permit
• Tax notices or other documents for the last 3 years proving the financial stability of your business, showing consistent and stable income.

Can UK citizens rent commercial property in France?

Yes, there’s no rule or law preventing foreign nationals from renting commercial property in France. You’ll need to have the right visa or work permit to legally remain in France, and follow all required processes for registering your business and paying taxes.

💡 You may also like our guides to doing business in France✈️

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After reading this, you should have a better idea of the process of renting a commercial property in France, including potential costs. It’s crucial to get professional legal advice and make use of French-speaking experts to help you navigate the process and avoid mis-steps.

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Sources used:

1. RFN - Renting commercial premises in France: key points to consider
2. Factory - 3/6/9 lease
3. Baker McKenzie - Global Corporate Real Estate Guide - France - Leases
4. Deskeo - Discover average office rental prices per m² in Paris
5. FrenchEntrée - Renting in France: Preparing Your Dossier & Guarantor

Sources last checked on date: 22-Aug-2025