18/ Commercial lease

The commercial lease, or “bail commercial” is the standard French legal document used for a leaseback agreement.
A well-needed clarification: YOU are the “lessor” (or bailleur) whereas the management company is the “tenant” (or preneur). This tenant is entitled to sublet your property, in exchange for which they must pay you an income and maintain your property in good order - as well as all the other communal parts of the residence such as swimming pools, fitness centres, gardens etc. that are not your responsibility. The terms of the lease will vary from one property to another (duration, guaranteed income, personal use) but the legal implications are the same for all the properties rented under this scheme as with any other commercial property: the tenant (management company) is entitled to pull out from the lease at any time (although not for the first term of the lease and this will be indicated in the contract) but you are not - unless of course the management company does not fill their side of the agreement - by not paying you your rent for instance, or neglecting the property.