Welcome! This short B1 lesson helps you ask practical questions when you rent an apartment in France. Listen, repeat, and practice — you'll feel more confident at viewings and with agents.
Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice key rental questions in French: who handles repairs, what documents are needed, fees, payment methods, notice periods, and seeing the lease before signing. These Ready-to-Use chunks are CEFR-aligned and built for real conversations at viewings and with agencies.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Ask who is responsible for repairs and what problems exist.
Check fees, payment methods and required documents for an application.
Ask about renewing the lease, notice period, and request the lease copy before signing.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
Qui s’occupe des réparations ?
Who is responsible for repairs?
Meaning: Who is responsible for repairs?
When to use: Ask this when you want to know who will fix problems (landlord, agency, or tenant). Useful at viewings and before signing.
Avant de signer, je demande: Qui s’occupe des réparations ?
Before I sign, I ask: Who handles repairs?
Si le chauffage tombe en panne, qui s’occupe des réparations ?
If the heating breaks, who is responsible for repairs?
Est-ce que je peux renouveler le bail à la fin ?
Can I renew the lease after it ends?
Meaning: Can I renew the lease after it ends?
When to use: Use this to check if you can extend the rental agreement at the end of the fixed term.
Tip: Don't say "renouveler le bail pour la fin"; use "à la fin" to mean "at the end."
Est-ce que je peux renouveler le bail à la fin si je veux rester ?
Can I renew the lease at the end if I want to stay?
Le propriétaire m'a demandé: Est-ce que je peux renouveler le bail à la fin ?
The owner asked me: Can I renew the lease at the end?
Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?
What documents do I need for the application?
Meaning: What documents do I need for the application?
When to use: Ask this when preparing your rental application (dossier) so you bring all required papers.
Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ? J'ai mon contrat de travail et mes fiches de paie.
What documents are needed for the application? I have my work contract and pay slips.
À l'agence, j'ai demandé: Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?
At the agency, I asked: What documents are needed for the application?
Il y a des frais de dossier ?
Is there an application fee?
Meaning: Is there an application fee?
When to use: Use this to confirm whether the agency or owner charges a fee to process your application.
Tip: Some learners say "frais d'agence" instead; ask specifically "frais de dossier" for application costs.
Il y a des frais de dossier ? Je préfère savoir à l'avance.
Is there an application fee? I'd rather know in advance.
Quand j'ai appelé l'agence, j'ai demandé: Il y a des frais de dossier ?
When I called the agency, I asked: Is there an application fee?
Je peux payer le loyer par ___ ?
Can I pay the rent by ___?
Meaning: Can I pay the rent by ___?
When to use: Ask this to check acceptable payment methods (bank transfer, cheque, card, direct debit). Fill the blank with the method.
Tip: Beginners sometimes say "avec" (with) instead of "par" for payment methods; use "par virement", "par chèque", etc.
Je peux payer le loyer par virement ?
Can I pay the rent by bank transfer?
Je peux payer le loyer par prélèvement si c'est plus simple ?
Can I pay the rent by direct debit if it's easier?
Il y a des frais en plus à prévoir ?
Are there any extra fees I should know about?
Meaning: Are there any extra fees I should know about?
When to use: Use this to ask about any additional costs not included in the rent (utilities, charges, agency fees).
Il y a des frais en plus à prévoir ? Par exemple les charges ou l'eau.
Are there extra fees to expect? For example charges or water.
Avant de signer, demandez: Il y a des frais en plus à prévoir ?
Before signing, ask: Are there any extra fees to plan for?
Je peux voir une copie du bail avant de signer ?
Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?
Meaning: Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?
When to use: Ask this to review the contract terms and understand obligations before committing to the rental.
Je peux voir une copie du bail avant de signer ? J'aimerais vérifier la durée et les charges.
Can I see a copy of the lease before signing? I'd like to check the duration and charges.
L'agence m'a donné un rendez-vous pour que je puisse dire: Je peux voir une copie du bail avant de signer ?
The agency gave me an appointment so I could say: Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?
Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?
What is the notice period for moving out?
Meaning: What is the notice period for moving out?
When to use: Ask this to learn how much advance notice you must give when ending the rental contract.
Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ? Est-ce un mois ou trois mois ?
What is the notice period to leave the housing? Is it one month or three months?
Avant de signer, vérifiez: Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?
Before signing, check: What is the notice period to move out?
Il y a déjà eu des problèmes avec ___ ?
Has there been any problem with ___?
Meaning: Has there been any problem with ___?
When to use: Use this to ask about past or recurring problems with a specific issue (heating, damp, neighbours). Fill the blank with the issue.
Il y a déjà eu des problèmes avec le chauffage ?
Has there already been any problem with the heating?
Il y a déjà eu des problèmes avec les voisins ou l'humidité ?
Have there been any problems with the neighbours or damp?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
At an agency during a viewing, Anna asks practical questions and David answers.
What are Anna and David mainly discussing?
Anna
Bonjour, je regarde l’appartement. Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?
Hello, I'm looking at the apartment. What documents are needed for the application?
David
Passeport et fiches de paie. Et il y a des frais de dossier ?
Passport and pay slips. And is there an application fee?
Anna
Combien ? Et je peux voir une copie du bail avant de signer ?
How much? And can I see a copy of the lease before signing?
David
Oui, je vous la montre. Qui s’occupe des réparations si quelque chose casse ?
Yes, I'll show it. Who handles repairs if something breaks?
Anna
Je peux payer le loyer par prélèvement automatique ?
Can I pay the rent by direct debit?
David
Le préavis pour quitter le logement est d’un mois dans ce cas.
The notice period to move out is one month in this case.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which French sentence asks who is responsible for repairs?
Which phrase asks about renewing the lease at the end?
Which sentence asks whether there is an application fee?
Which phrase asks about the notice period for moving out?
Before I sign the contract, can I see a copy of the lease?
Before I sign the contract, can I ___
If the heater breaks, I need to know who is responsible for repairs.
If the heater breaks, I need to know ___
When I move out I should give notice — what is the notice period for moving out?
When I move out I should give notice — what is ___
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
