- Price
- from €11.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- 2 to 3 business daysusually, after handover to the post
- Proof
- Recipient's signature+ tracking and proof of posting
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 12:00Central European Time on a business day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Domestic registered mailprinted and posted in France
Which letter should you use to claim the deposit?
The law sets no form for your claim. A registered letter proves the date the landlord was put on notice, and that is what the conciliator or the judge will ask for.
Plain recommandé is open to every sender, including from abroad after you move. With an address in France you can choose the LRAR for the signed avis de réception.
| Lettre recommandée | LRAR (with avis de réception) | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Tracking, proof of posting and delivery against the recipient's signature | The same, plus the avis de réception: a card signed and dated by the recipient |
| Recipient signs | Yes | Yes |
| Handed to the post | Same working day if uploaded by 12:00 Central European time | Next working day at the latest |
| Delivery time | 2 to 3 business days | 2 to 3 business days |
| Who can send it | Any sender, wherever you live | Senders with an address in France |
| Good for | Cancellations, formal notices, claims, resignations | Letters where French law asks for LRAR, such as a tenant's notice |
| Price | €11.95 | €13.95 |
What if the landlord still does not pay?
Under 5,000 euros, an attempt at conciliation is required before going to court; the conciliateur de justice is free. Then the juge des contentieux de la protection can order the landlord to pay, with the penalty. For other debts, see how to write a French formal notice.
When must the landlord return the deposit?
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Check-out report matches check-in | 1 month |
| Check-out report differs | 2 months, minus justified deductions |
| Landlord is late | +10% of the monthly rent excluding charges per month of delay started |
| No forwarding address given | No 10% penalty |
| No reply to your formal notice | Conciliator, then the court, within 3 years |
The clock starts when you hand back the keys.
How do you send it, step by step?
- Write the formal noticeAmount, date you returned the keys, 8 days to pay.
- Upload the PDFPut the recipient's address in the window area.
- We print it in FranceLa Poste delivers it against a signature.
- Keep the proofThe tracking number and proof PDF date the posting and the delivery.
Sample formal notice in French
Write to the landlord in French and add a copy of the check-out report to the same PDF.
[Prénom Nom]
[Nouvelle adresse]
[Nom et adresse du bailleur]
[Ville], le [date]
Objet : mise en demeure de restituer le dépôt de garantie
Madame, Monsieur,
J'ai quitté le logement situé [adresse] et vous ai remis les clés le [date]. L'état des lieux de sortie [est conforme / n'est pas conforme] à celui d'entrée.
Le délai de restitution d'[un mois / deux mois] fixé par l'article 22 de la loi du 6 juillet 1989 a expiré le [date]. Je vous mets en demeure de me verser [montant] euros sous 8 jours à compter de la réception de cette lettre, sur le compte [IBAN].
À défaut, la somme due sera majorée de 10 % du loyer mensuel hors charges pour chaque mois de retard commencé, et je saisirai le conciliateur de justice.
Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées.
[Signature]
What to check before you send
- Example: keys returned on 31 October 2026, report matches. The deposit is due by 30 November 2026 at the latest. From 1 December, the 10% penalty applies.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a French landlord have to return the deposit?
One month if the check-out report matches the check-in report, two months otherwise, from the day you return the keys.
What is the penalty for a late deposit?
10% of the monthly rent excluding charges for each month of delay started, unless you did not give your new address.
Do I need a registered letter?
It is not required, but a registered letter dates the formal notice. It is the document the conciliator and the court ask for.
I live abroad now. Can I still claim?
Yes. Upload the PDF from abroad, we print it in France and La Poste delivers it against a signature.
What if the landlord does not answer?
Go to the conciliateur de justice, required under 5,000 euros, then to the juge des contentieux de la protection, within three years.
Does the registered letter prove what was in the envelope?
No. La Poste proves the posting and the delivery, not the text. Keep the PDF you sent: your proof of posting identifies that exact file.