French law protects the peaceful enjoyment of the tenant: entering home without an explicit agreement is a violation of domicile.
It doesn’t matter if the owner has a double of the keys, or if he considers his urgent intervention. Possible sanction: up to € 15,000 fine and one year in prison.
In the event of an intrusion, the tenant must bring together evidence (photos, testimonies), then file a complaint or seize the public prosecutor.
Very supervised exceptions
Only three situations can justify entry into the accommodation:
- Necessary or improvement work
The lessor can intervene for an essential interview or an energy improvement, but only after written notification (nature, duration, start date). Visits are prohibited on Sunday and public holidays. If the work lasts more than 21 days, a proportional reduction in the rent is essential. - Visits to re -turn or sell
Possible only if the lease arrives in the long term or if the accommodation is on sale, with an agreement on schedules: maximum two hours per working day, no Sunday. - Annual visit clause
Registered in the lease, it allows the owner to check the condition of the property … but always by appointment and without abuse of frequency.
Double of the keys is not a pass
Keeping a set of keys does not give the right to enter freely. Without authorization, their use falls under the violation of domicile.
The courts regularly recall that the delivery of the keys to the tenant devotes his exclusive right to occupy the premises.
Why this protection is crucial
This protection is not a luxury: it guarantees respect for privacy, a central element of the residential lease. The rare exceptions only aim to preserve the accommodation … and not to satisfy the owner’s curiosity.
