These two contracts dominate medium-term furnished rental in Paris, and they are often confused. Yet they follow neither the same rules nor the same rent constraints. Here is the complete comparison to help you choose correctly.
The comparison table
| Criterion | Mobility lease | Civil lease |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Law of 6 July 1989 (art. 25-12 et seq., ELAN law) | Civil Code, art. 1709 to 1778 |
| Duration | 1 to 10 months, non-renewable | Free |
| Tenant profile | Justified: studies, internship, apprenticeship, assignment, job transfer | Home that is not the tenant's main residence, or a legal entity |
| Security deposit | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Rent control | Yes, in rent-controlled areas | No, if the arrangement is valid |
| Tenant's notice | 1 month | Freely negotiated |
| Main risk | Low — clear legal framework | Reclassification under the 1989 law |
The deciding factor: rent control
Contrary to a very widespread belief in the Paris market, the mobility lease is subject to rent control in the municipalities concerned. It falls under the 1989 law, just like a standard furnished lease.
The rent under a mobility lease therefore cannot exceed the increased reference rent set by prefectoral order, unless a rent supplement is genuinely justified. The civil lease, on the other hand, is not subject to this cap — but only because it covers a situation that the 1989 law does not govern. This freedom disappears retroactively if the lease is reclassified.
When to choose the mobility lease
- The tenant is a student, intern, apprentice, in vocational training, on a temporary assignment or being transferred.
- The stay lasts between 1 and 10 months and will not be extended beyond that.
- The home will be their main residence during this period.
- You want a simple, robust legal framework with no risk of reclassification.
Note: the absence of a security deposit is offset by the free public Visale guarantee from Action Logement, or by a paid private guarantee. The tenant must obtain the Visale approval before signing.
When to choose the civil lease
- The tenant keeps their main residence elsewhere: expatriate passing through, executive on a business trip, owner whose home is undergoing works, professional pied-à-terre.
- The tenant is a company housing an employee.
- The desired term exceeds 10 months or requires flexibility.
- You want to keep a security deposit.
The renewal trap
A mobility lease is not renewable with the same tenant. Two practices create a risk: chaining two successive mobility leases, or switching to a civil lease at the end of the mobility lease to extend the occupancy. In both cases, the tenant has made the home their main residence — and a judge will find so. At the end of a mobility lease, either the tenant leaves or you sign a standard furnished lease governed by the 1989 law.
Our recommendation
Start from the tenant, never from the rent you are aiming for. If the applicant is coming to live in Paris for studies or a few months' assignment and has no other home, it is a mobility lease, with a rent within the cap. If they keep a home elsewhere and come intermittently, the civil lease is appropriate — provided their situation is documented. Choosing the contract to escape a cap is precisely what triggers disputes.
⚠️ Every situation must be checked
The right contract depends on facts that only a review of the tenant's file can establish. This article is for information only and does not constitute legal advice: have your choice and your templates validated by a property lawyer.
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