Moving to Paris: the 4 essential home contracts

You’ve just signed your lease. The move-in date is approaching. And suddenly, the to-do list keeps growing: insurance, electricity, internet, water... Each contract has its own timelines, its own pitfalls, and its own order of priority.

In Paris, a poorly prepared move can mean several days without electricity, a week without internet, or worse: a key handover cancelled due to a missing insurance certificate.

This guide gives you the steps in the right order, the right reflexes, and information specific to the Parisian property market.

Home insurance is the only contract whose absence can physically block your move-in. Without a comprehensive home insurance certificate (MRH), the vast majority of Parisian landlords and agencies will refuse to hand over the keys. This is not a formality: it is a contractual condition.

Why the certificate is required before the inventory

The law of 6 July 1989 requires the tenant to provide proof of home insurance covering rental risks (fire, water damage, explosion) from the moment they take possession of the property. The landlord is entitled to request this certificate every year.

• Take out your insurance at least 48 hours before the inventory
• Request the certificate by email as soon as you subscribe (it is generally sent immediately)
• Check that the property address is correctly stated on the document
• Keep a digital copy accessible from your phone on the day

If you have not yet taken out insurance by the key handover date, the landlord may take out insurance on your behalf and pass on the cost to you, with a surcharge. It is better to plan ahead.

Choosing the right cover for a Parisian apartment

In Paris, high rents often mean furnished or semi-furnished properties with valuable furniture. Adjust your cover accordingly.

• Check the coverage limit for furniture and valuables
• Opt for “new-for-old” cover if the property is high-end furnished
• Make sure third-party liability cover is included (it covers damage caused to neighbours)
• Compare excesses: a high excess reduces the premium but increases your out-of-pocket costs in the event of a claim

Online comparison tools such as Assurland or LeLynx allow you to get several quotes in just a few minutes. For a Parisian two-bedroom apartment, expect to pay between €15 and €30 per month depending on the cover chosen.

Contrary to what one might think, opening an electricity contract in Paris is not done in one click. You need to know the right reference number, choose your supplier, and avoid the cut-off linked to the previous tenant’s departure.

The PDL number: the key to your electricity contract

The PDL (Point de Livraison) is the 14-digit number that uniquely identifies the electricity meter in your property. Without it, no supplier can open your contract.

• Ask your landlord or agency for the PDL number as soon as you sign the lease
• It also appears on the previous electricity bills for the property
• If in doubt, the Enedis website allows you to find a PDL from the address
• Contact your chosen supplier at least 5 days before your move-in

If you do not open a contract before you arrive, Enedis may cut the electricity supply to the property as soon as the previous tenant leaves. Reconnection can take 24 to 48 hours.

EDF or an alternative supplier?

Since the energy market was opened up, EDF is no longer the only player. Suppliers such as TotalEnergies, Engie, or Ekwateur often offer more competitive deals.

• EDF offers the Regulated Sale Tariff (TRV), set by the government: it is the market benchmark
• Alternative suppliers offer deals indexed to the TRV or at a fixed price, sometimes 5 to 15% cheaper
• Changing supplier is free and without interruption: the new supplier handles the cancellation of the previous contract
• Use the official comparison tool energie-info.fr to compare offers impartially

Regarding gas, the Parisian situation deserves an important clarification: renovated small apartments are increasingly fully electric, particularly in refurbished Haussmann buildings.

Gas remains the norm for collective heating and large family apartments. Before taking out a gas contract, simply check whether your property is equipped with one.

In Paris, fibre optic is very widely deployed. But “eligible” does not mean “immediately available”. Installation times can vary from a few days to several weeks, depending on the building, the operator, and the availability of technicians.

Check eligibility as soon as you sign the lease

This is the number one reflex: as soon as you have the definitive address of your future property, check its fibre eligibility. Do not assume that Paris is entirely covered by fibre: some older buildings, particularly in the central arrondissements, may still be on VDSL or awaiting connection.

• Check eligibility directly on the operators’ websites: Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom
• Check whether the building is already connected to fibre (“fibred building”) or whether a connection is required
• If a connection is required, allow an additional 2 to 4 weeks
• Order your box at least 1 week before your move-in

In Paris, some listed Haussmann buildings impose technical constraints for cable routing. In these cases, timelines can be significantly extended.

Choosing your operator and managing the transition

The four major operators (Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom) cover most of the Parisian territory. The choice mainly depends on price, customer service quality, and included options (TV, mobile telephony).

• Free is often the cheapest, with offers starting from €29.99/month
• Orange is renowned for the quality of its network and customer service
• SFR and Bouygues regularly offer attractive promotional deals for new subscribers
• If you already have a contract, a simple change of address is enough: contact your current operator

Water is often the forgotten contract in moving guides. And for good reason: in Paris, in the vast majority of cases, you have nothing to do.

Water included in service charges: the Parisian rule

Unlike many French cities where water is billed directly to the tenant, in Paris, water distribution is managed by Eau de Paris, a municipal authority. In the vast majority of Parisian collective buildings, cold water is included in rental service charges.

• Check in your lease whether water is included in the service charges (mention of “recoverable charges” or “advance on charges”)
• If water is included, you have nothing to do: it is the landlord or the building management company who manages the contract
• If you are in a detached house or a property with an individual meter, you will need to open a contract directly with Eau de Paris
• Note the water meter reading during the inventory, even if water is included in the service charges

In Paris, tap water is of very high quality and perfectly safe to drink. It is one of the best tap waters in France, according to regular analyses by Eau de Paris.

Hot water and collective heating

In Parisian buildings, domestic hot water is often produced collectively, via a shared boiler or an urban heating network. In this case, it is also included in the service charges.

• Check whether your property has an individual water heater or collective production
• In the case of collective production, the cost is shared among co-owners and passed on through the service charges
• If your property has an individual electric water heater, its consumption is included in your electricity contract
• Note the condition of the water heater during the inventory (capacity, general condition)

To find out more about the points to check during your visit, see our guide on the 10 key checks during an apartment visit in Paris.

Managing move-in contracts is a matter of timing. Here is the optimal timeline for a smooth move-in in Paris.

As soon as you sign the lease (D-30 to D-15)

This is the preparation phase. You have the address, you have time: now is the moment to act on the steps with longer lead times.

• Check fibre eligibility and order your internet box
• Ask your landlord or agency for the PDL number
• Compare home insurance offers and select your contract
• Check whether the property has gas (hob, individual boiler)
• Find out what is included in the service charges (water, heating, hot water)

In the 7 days before move-in (D-7 to D-1)

This is the activation phase. All contracts must be taken out or in the process of being activated.

• Take out your electricity contract (and gas if needed) with effect from the day of move-in
• Finalise your home insurance contract and download the certificate
• Confirm the installation date of your internet box with the operator
• Prepare a digital copy of your insurance certificate on your phone
• Note the customer service numbers of each supplier in case of a problem on the day

If you are supported by a relocation service, this phase is taken care of and means you do not have to manage these steps in a language that may not be your own, and within an administrative system that can be confusing even for French people.