Warranty deposit paid in francs: How much should you reimburse after 27 years of rental?

The tenant of Jean-Marc terminates his lease after 28 years. What amount should he be reimbursed for his deposit of 5,000 francs?

Video Capital: What is the rule to reimburse a tenant who leaves after 28 years and had paid a deposit of 5,000 francs in 1998, before the transition to the Euro? Should this amount simply be converted to euros?

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It is an understatement to say that Jean-Marc’s tenant, in Creil (Oise), felt well in his apartment. He has just terminated the leaseAfter… 27 years spent in housing ! A departure that brings Jean-Marc to ask the following questions, in the program Le Grand Rendez-vous de l’Emalmboards (Capital/Radio Immo): “During his move in 1998, my tenant had paid me a warranty of 5,000 francs. What amount should I reimburse him today? Should we just convert the francs to euros? Or also take into account the evolution of inflation between 1998 and 2025 and other possible indicators? ” Inflation which increased from 0.6% in 1998, according to Statista, to 0.8% in April 2025, according to the provisional estimate of INSEE, after jumping at 5.2% in 2022.

Yes, 1998, it was four years before the transition to the Euro… “THE lessor owes no interest to the tenant, The 1989 law very well framed this case ”reassures Arnaud Laudy, founder and boss of Mecaza, a network of real estate hunters. The amount of the security deposit, which must not exceed one month of rent excluding charges in the case of a bare rental and two months for a furnished, “”does not have an interest in the benefit of the tenant. It must not be subject to any revision during the execution of the rental contract, possibly renewed ”indicates article 22 of the law of July 6, 1989 tending to improve rental relationships.

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To reimburse the security deposit to its tenant, it will therefore be enough for Jean-Marc de “”Convert the sum of 5,000 francs to euroson the basis of a conversion rate of 6.51 francs for one euro, which corresponds to around 760 euros ”Concludes Arnaud Laudy. The real estate hunter adds advice to the attention of Jean-Marc: “We must not forget to restore the deposit within one month after the inventory of exit if there was no degradations, and two months otherwise.»» Indeed, in the absence of restitution within these deadlines, the security deposit is increased by a sum equal to 10% monthly rent, for each month late. And that Jean-Marc does not take refuge behind the wear and tear of the property to make only part of the deposit: “After 28 years, the wear and tear of the property is completely normal, it cannot be attributed to the tenant”underlines Arnaud Laudy.

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