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Lesson 134 of 240

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Signing the lease in French

Sam is back in the stairwell with Monsieur Lefebvre. The landlord has papers, a ring of keys, and no time for small talk.

Sam still has a pen in his hand. Before he signs, he needs to ask who does repairs, what papers go in the file, and how much notice he must give.

This lesson is those questions. Renewal is only a question today. Signing for another year comes later.

By the end of this lesson

Ask about papers, repairs, fees, and notice before you sign.

  • Qui s'occupe des réparations ?Who handles the repairs?
  • Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?What documents do I need for the file?
  • Je peux voir le bail avant de signer ?Can I see the lease before I sign?
  • Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?How much notice do I give to move out?
  • Il y a des frais en plus à prévoir ?Are there extra fees I should expect?
  • Je peux renouveler le bail à la fin ?Can I renew the lease at the end?

Scene — the pen is still out

The fourth-floor landing. Monsieur Lefebvre stands in the doorway with a grey cardigan, a tie, and a heavy ring of keys.

A folder of papers sits on the mail shelf. Sam holds a pen. A bicycle leans on the landing. There is no lift.

A wide view of an upper apartment landing with Monsieur Lefebvre in the doorway, Sam holding a pen, a folder on the mail shelf, a bicycle, and stairs instead of a lift.

Learn — papers, repairs, notice

Six questions for a lease: repairs, papers, reading the contract, notice, extra fees, and whether you can renew.

You ask. Lefebvre answers in few words.

  1. A cracked wall patch and a loose fixture on the landing, with Sam and Monsieur Lefebvre soft behind it while Sam holds a pen.

    Qui s'occupe des réparations ?

    Who handles the repairs?

    When to use it: Ask the landlord who will fix things in the flat.

    S'occupe de names who does that job.

    Say it: The s in des is silent before réparations.

  2. Close-up of Sam opening a folder of papers on the wall mail shelf with a pen between the fingers.

    Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?

    What documents do I need for the file?

    When to use it: Ask which papers the landlord wants before you sign.

    Il faut here names the papers you need.

    Say it: The final s in quels is silent before documents.

  3. Over-the-shoulder past Sam holding papers out toward Monsieur Lefebvre in the doorway with a ring of keys.

    Je peux voir le bail avant de signer ?

    Can I see the lease before I sign?

    When to use it: Ask to read the lease before you put your name on it.

    Avant de goes before a verb: before you sign.

    Say it: The x in peux is silent.

  4. Sam turning toward the descending stairs with one hand on the banister and a pen in the other, as if ready to leave.

    Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?

    How much notice do I give to move out?

    When to use it: Ask how many months you must give before you leave.

    Préavis is the notice time you give before you leave.

  5. High-angle view of Sam sitting on a landing step with a pen hovering over a page and the other hand raised as if counting.

    Il y a des frais en plus à prévoir ?

    Are there extra fees I should expect?

    When to use it: Ask if money besides rent will come due.

    Des frais are extra costs, not the monthly rent.

    Say it: The s in des is silent before frais.

  6. Sam facing Monsieur Lefebvre in the doorway, leaning slightly forward with an open palm and a pen still held at the side.

    Je peux renouveler le bail à la fin ?

    Can I renew the lease at the end?

    When to use it: Ask if you can stay on when this lease ends.

    This only asks; you do not sign a new year yet.

    Say it: The vowel in fin is nasal; the final n is not pronounced separately.

Story — he lists, then stops

Watch Sam in the doorway with the pen still in his hand. Lefebvre lists what he needs, then stops.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The landing is quiet. Lefebvre opens the folder on the mail shelf.
  2. Monsieur LefebvreBonjour monsieur.Hello, sir.
  3. SamBonjour monsieur. Je peux poser une question ?Hello, sir. Can I ask a question?
  4. Monsieur LefebvreJe vous écoute.I'm listening.
  5. SamQuels documents il faut pour le dossier ?What documents do I need for the file?
  6. Monsieur LefebvreUne pièce d'identité, et un contrat.An ID, and a contract.
  7. SamJe peux voir le bail avant de signer ?Can I see the lease before I sign?
  8. Monsieur LefebvreOui. Le voici.Yes. Here it is.
  9. SamQui s'occupe des réparations ?Who handles the repairs?
  10. Monsieur LefebvreMoi pour le gros. Vous pour le petit.Me for the big jobs. You for the small ones.
  11. SamQuel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?How much notice do I give to move out?
  12. Monsieur LefebvreUn mois, par écrit.One month, in writing.
  13. SamIl y a des frais en plus à prévoir ?Are there extra fees I should expect?
  14. Monsieur LefebvrePas de frais en plus. Il y a un dépôt de garantie d'un mois.No extra fees. There is a one-month security deposit.
  15. SamJe peux renouveler le bail à la fin ?Can I renew the lease at the end?
  16. Monsieur LefebvreOn verra plus tard.We'll see later.
  17. He stops. Sam is still holding the pen.

Practice — before you sign

Ten short tasks. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and match a meaning.

They stay close to the doorway, so you can ask before you sign.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Qui s'occupe des réparations ?Drop the English here
    Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?Drop the English here
    Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Lefebvre holds a folder. You need to know which papers go in the file.

  4. Fill the gap

    Can I see the lease before I sign?

    Je peux voir le ____ avant de signer ?

  5. What does it mean?

    Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?

  6. Swap the word

    The lease will end. You want to know if you can stay on.

    Je peux ____ le bail à la fin ?

  7. Build the line

    Are there extra fees I should expect?

     ?

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Pick the reply

    Monsieur Lefebvre says:

    Il y a une fuite dans la cuisine.

    There's a leak in the kitchen.

    And you reply with:

  9. What do you say?

    You meet Monsieur Lefebvre in the doorway. Greet him politely.

  10. True or false?

    This is how you say goodbye to Lefebvre.

Say it — ask him first

Now you're Sam on the landing. Lefebvre is waiting. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Monsieur LefebvreBonjour monsieur.Hello, sir.
  2. Sam (you)Ask which papers you need for the file.

    Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?

    What documents do I need for the file?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Qui s'occupe des réparations ?Who handles the repairs?
Quels documents il faut pour le dossier ?What documents do I need for the file?
Je peux voir le bail avant de signer ?Can I see the lease before I sign?
Quel est le préavis pour quitter le logement ?How much notice do I give to move out?
Il y a des frais en plus à prévoir ?Are there extra fees I should expect?
Je peux renouveler le bail à la fin ?Can I renew the lease at the end?
Next: lesson 135What's in the flat

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Need these lease questions on the landing? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps papers, repairs, and notice ready before you sign.

Open Yak Cards