Renting out a property in the countryside or in a rural area is increasingly appealing to owners, whether it is a Breton longhouse, a renovated farmhouse, or a village house. But behind the charm of the stonework and wide-open spaces lies a precise legal framework that every landlord must master. Between the obligations imposed by the law of July 6, 1989, the specificities related to isolated properties, and the legitimate expectations of tenants, it is better to know the rules of the game before signing a lease. This article reviews the rights and duties of the landlord in rural areas.
The primary responsibility of the landlord is to provide decent housing. This means a property that is healthy, safe, equipped with minimum comfort elements (heating, drinking water, electrical installation up to standards, sufficient ventilation) and a living area of at least 9 m² with a ceiling height of 2.20 m. In rural areas, certain points deserve particular attention: compliant individual sanitation, thermal insulation, roof sealing, and access that is passable in all seasons.
The owner must also ensure the maintenance of the housing and carry out all repairs other than tenant maintenance. This includes the roof, load-bearing walls, the boiler (excluding routine maintenance), main pipes, or the septic tank. They are also required to guarantee the tenant peaceful enjoyment of the property, which involves respecting their privacy and not entering the accommodation without their consent.
Finally, the landlord must provide all mandatory diagnostics (DPE, risk assessment, asbestos, lead, electricity, gas as applicable) and issue a rent receipt upon the tenant's request.
While obligations are numerous, the owner also has clearly defined rights. They can collect rent and require a security deposit (limited to one month's rent excluding charges for an unfurnished rental). They have the right to choose their tenant based on objective criteria related to their solvency, without discrimination.
The landlord can also oversee the management of the lease: annual rent review according to the IRL if a clause provides for it, adjustment of charges, and the possibility of giving notice for sale, for personal use, or for a legitimate and serious reason, while respecting notice periods.
Regarding access to the property, the owner may require to visit the accommodation in specific situations: performance of work, sale, or re-letting. However, these visits must be organized in agreement with the tenant and cannot take place on Sundays or public holidays, nor exceed two hours per working day.
The owner cannot enter the rented accommodation without the tenant's permission, even if they are the owner. Any unauthorized entry constitutes a violation of the home. In case of necessary work, notice and the tenant's agreement are essential.
The breakdown is clear: rental repairs (seals, minor maintenance, replacing light bulbs, routine boiler maintenance) are the responsibility of the tenant, while major repairs and wear and tear remain the responsibility of the landlord. In rural areas, issues related to the surroundings (hedges, access, wells) must be specified in the lease to avoid any ambiguity.
A question regularly arises among landlords: can one keep a duplicate set of keys for the rented accommodation? The answer is more nuanced than it seems and directly affects the respect for the tenant's private life. To explore this specific point further, you can consult this detailed resource: can the owner keep a duplicate set of keys. It provides useful legal insight for any owner concerned with respecting the legal framework.
This is a frequent confusion among owners of property in the countryside. The residential lease (governed by the law of July 6, 1989) concerns the rental of housing intended for the tenant's primary residence: country house, longhouse, old farmhouse renovated into a dwelling. The rural lease (farm lease), on the other hand, falls under the Rural Code and concerns the provision of agricultural land or farm buildings to a tenant who operates them professionally. The two regimes have nothing in common: minimum duration (9 years for a rural lease versus 3 years for an empty residential lease), rent calculation method (farm rent index on one side, IRL on the other), the tenant's right of pre-emption, termination conditions... everything differs. An owner who rents out both a house and adjoining agricultural land will therefore often have to sign two separate contracts. To further understand the specificities of this particular regime, you can consult our article Rural leases and improvement compensation: rights and obligations of the outgoing tenant, which details an essential aspect of the landlord-tenant relationship in agricultural matters.
Beyond strict compliance with the law, the quality of the landlord-tenant relationship rests on three pillars. First, communication: informing in advance of interventions, responding to requests within reasonable timeframes, and prioritizing written communication to keep a record. Next, transparency: being clear about charges, the state of the property at entry, and the terms for returning the security deposit. Finally, respect for the legal framework: relying on a compliant lease, conducting a detailed joint move-in inspection, and carefully keeping all documents related to the rental.
In rural areas, where tenants are often settled for long periods, these best practices are even more valuable: they prevent misunderstandings and build loyalty with good tenants.
Renting out a rural property cannot be improvised. Between legal obligations, regulated rights, and specificities inherent to isolated housing, the landlord has every interest in educating themselves and surrounding themselves, if necessary, with a rental management professional. Good knowledge of the rules not only helps avoid conflicts but also durably secures one's investment and preserves the value of one's heritage. A well-drafted lease, respectful exchanges, and rigorous management are the best allies for a successful rental in the countryside.
