“For rent” poster: find a tenant without a paid platform

Finding a tenant without an agency or a paid platform is no uphill battle: renting between individuals is perfectly legal and very common. For the landlord, it means saving the letting fees; for the tenant, saving their share of agency fees — an argument that instantly makes your property more attractive than the equivalent agency listing. The method has three parts: a complete and compliant listing, well-planned visibility — online and on site —, and a tenant file reviewed seriously. Let us walk through it.

A complete (and compliant) rental listing

A rental listing must inform the candidate precisely. Some details are legally required, others simply essential to avoid pointless viewings:

• The rent and the service charges, specifying how they are paid (provision with adjustment, or flat rate);
• The amount of the security deposit requested;
• The habitable floor area in m² and the number of rooms;
• The energy performance rating: the energy label must appear on the listing, just as for a sale;
• The town, floor, lift, heating, parking… everything that triggers or avoids a viewing;
• In some municipalities subject to rent control, additional statements apply (notably the reference rent): check whether your city is concerned before publishing.

Add bright photos of every room, taken in daylight, with the place tidy. A precise listing filters naturally: the candidates who write to you are the ones for whom everything already fits.

The “For rent” poster: reaching people who already love the area

A large share of tenants search within one specific area: to stay close to the school, work or family. Those candidates walk the neighbourhood, and the “For rent” poster placed in a window or on a balcony is the channel that reaches them on the spot, at the right moment. It is also a signal of trust: the property is real, visible and located — three things no online listing proves as well.

The old-style sign had one flaw: it forced the passer-by to jot down a phone number, then call to ask everything. With a large-format “For rent” QR code poster, the passer-by scans and discovers the full listing — photos, floor area, rent, charges, energy label — then contacts you directly to arrange a viewing. You save precious time: no more repeating the same information on every call. The online listing that comes with the poster is free.

The tenant file: checking without overreach

Once viewings are under way, it is time to select. The list of documents a landlord may require from a prospective tenant — and their guarantor — is set by regulation: identity document, proof of address, of professional situation and of income, essentially. Conversely, some documents cannot be requested, such as bank statements. When in doubt, stick to the standard supporting documents and compare files on the same objective criteria: the law prohibits any discrimination in choosing a tenant.

Check that the file is consistent — does the stated income match the documents? — and be wary of picture-perfect files sent before any viewing has taken place. Our safety tips gather the right reflexes for dealings between individuals.

Signing the lease: regulated templates

Good news for the private landlord: for renting out a main residence, unfurnished or furnished, the content of the lease is governed by a regulated standard contract, and compliant templates are freely available on official websites. The security deposit is capped — in principle one month's rent excluding charges for an unfurnished let, two months for a furnished one — and the move-in inventory, drawn up jointly, protects both parties. Take the time to do it room by room: it is what will prevent disputes at move-out.