Guidelines for keeping pets in a furnished rental apartment
More and more expatriates come to France with their cat or dog when they plan to stay for a furnished long-term apartment rental in Paris. Sometimes, they bring two or three pets!
France warmly welcomes pets. For instance, the 67 million citizens in France own nearly 62 million domestic animals!
However, for an expatriate wishing to settle in France with his pet companion, obtaining permission to bring them with him is difficult. Passenger animals are subject to certain laws, as are their masters.
Restrictions on travelling with pets to France:
-
5 pets per family, only!
- dogs or cats must be vaccinated against rabies.
- 1st class attack dogs, such as Mastiff (known as Boer bull), Staffordshire terrier or American Staffordshire terrier (known as pitbull), and Tosa are prohibited in France, except if they are pedigree breed dogs.However, they must always be kept on a leash and muzzled in public.
We highly recommend getting informed on the expatriation of pets, at least 3 months before leaving your country.
French customs demand documents that may be more or less numerous, depending on the country of origin. Also, it is better to inquire with the French Embassy of the country from which you will fly, at least three months before leaving your country.
Mandatory documents for taking pets to France:
Tips for flying with your pet: Travel safety advices
More and more major international airlines are offering services for animals.
For starters, animals weighing 6 kilos (13.2lbs) or less can ride with their owners in the cabin, provided they are caged or in a closed bag. Some companies have promotional prices for traveling pets; it's worth checking out several airlines before buying your tickets!
If your pet is prone to stress when traveling, contact the Goldenway team or https//airtransportanimal.com/ for reliable, professional and quality service where animal welfare is the main concern.
Steps to take after arriving in France with your pet
In France, a veterinarian will issue a European Pet Passport which includes an identification number and vaccination record. This passport allows your pet to freely travel throughout Europe and is valid for the animal’s life.
Tips for finding a pet-friendly furnished apartment rental in Paris
Should the tenant warn the landlord about their pets?
Yes, definitely! Although the landlord of an apartment for rent cannot legally refuse your little companion in France, and tenants are not obligated to inform the latter, Paris Rental strongly recommends that you let him know of your pet. Indeed, having this courtesy allows for better relationships. And if later on damages appear in the apartment, better be on good terms with the landlord to discuss with him what to do, even propose to make the repairs yourself. For since the law allows the landlord to take compensation from the security deposit, you may prefer to avoid losing your deposit.
Do not hesitate to contact Paris Rental directly for advice.
Specific pet-related clauses in lease contracts in France
When tenants bring their pets with them, Paris Rental includes a clause in the lease stating that the tenant agrees to treat his animal against fleas. The reason is that once the animal is no longer in the apartment, the fleas that thrived on it before now invade the grooves of the floor, the sofa cushions, carpets, the curtains ... rendering necessary to treat the problem professionally. As a result, it is impossible to rent the apartment for a month! The tenant would then be charged for the expenditures and the loss of rent!
Authorized pets in France: everything you need to know
Tenants are allowed to keep one or more domestic animals in the rented furnished accommodation, as long as they ensure the peaceful enjoyment of the premises and of the building's common areas. The animal’s owner is thus responsible for any damage and disturbance to the neighborhood that their animals may cause.
Here are the pets that are allowed to live in an apartment:
- dogs
- cats
- birds
- rodents
- rabbits
- reptiles
- ferrets
However, the lessor can insist on the prohibition of dangerous dogs belonging to the 1st category (attack dogs), by a clause included in the rental agreement.
For more exotic animals, the law prohibits:
- Dangerous specimen of the type mygale, boa, scorpion.
- Protected species mentioned in the decree of April 23, 2007, among which the hedgehog, the red squirrel, and the wild cat.
Other Unusual New Pets ownership (NAC) may also be prohibited by the landlord, such as:
- monkeys,
- snakes,
- spiders,
- wild animals prohibited from detention (crocodiles, lions, tigers ...)
Tenant's responsibilities regarding pets in furnished apartment rental
The tenant is responsible for any damage caused by his pet. These damages, if any, are usually recorded during the exit-inventory of the premises.
Therefore, whether it is inside the flat or in the building’s common areas, the tenant must ensure that their pets do not commit damages on the walls, floors, ceilings, electrical ducts, etc. For example, most condo regulations ban dogs without a leash.
Pet owners are also responsible for neighborhood disturbances, and more specifically those caused by barking. Learn more about neighborhood abnormalities and their consequences.
Finally, Paris Rental recommends that homeowners equip their apartments with affordable furniture to facilitate their replacement. Paris Rental’s list of equipment for furnished apartments is at your disposal.
credit photo @Sarah Brown
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