Practical guide
Holiday rental: do you need an inventory?
For a holiday stay, the law does not require one. Yet the day a sofa comes back stained, it is the only thing that matters. Here is how to do it quickly and well.
Updated 18 September 2026 · 2 min read
The rule
No text requires an inventory (“état des lieux”) for a holiday let. Article 1731 of the French Civil Code, however, provides that without one, the tenant is presumed to have received the property in good repair, and must return it that way — unless they prove otherwise.
What it is really for
- for you: comparing before and after, and backing up a claim if something was damaged;
- for the guest: seeing that the property matches what they booked, and that some wear is not their doing;
- for everyone: cutting short end-of-stay disputes.
Doing it without spending an hour
For a weekend, ten pages of notes make no sense. A few dated photos of each room, before arrival and after departure, plus a short list of the equipment, are almost always enough. What matters is being able to put the two moments side by side.
If something is damaged
Take photos straight away, keeping the date. Booking platforms often leave little time to report damage after a departure: the faster you react, the better your rights are protected.
The end-of-stay visit, our inventory
Cleaning is when you see everything: the chipped glass, the missing remote, the burn on the worktop. A room-by-room tour recorded in writing, with photos, serves as the departure record.
This guide gives general pointers. It is not legal advice, and the obligations that come with letting a property remain its owner's. The law that applies is French law; legal texts are cited in French.