Lift and goods lift
Electricity and everyday maintenance of the cabin · Minor repairs (call buttons, cabin lighting bulbs) · Call-outs without replacement of major parts
Free guide — decree no. 87-713
Recoverable charges: what a landlord can bill back to the tenant
Decree no. 87-713 sets the exhaustive list of recoverable rental charges. Here is what you can pass on to your tenant, what stays your responsibility, and how to reconcile every year in full compliance.
What are recoverable charges?
Recoverable charges (rental charges) are expenses paid by the landlord but that legally fall on the tenant, because they correspond to services the tenant benefits from or to the everyday upkeep of the home. The landlord advances them and is then reimbursed.
Their list is set exhaustively by decree no. 87-713 of 26 August 1987, issued under article 23 of law no. 89-462. An expense not listed there cannot be recovered from the tenant, even through a lease clause: the list is a matter of public order.
What stays the landlord's responsibility
Conversely, anything relating to ownership, wear and tear or major works cannot be recovered. The following are notably not recoverable:
• Major works and equipment replacement (boiler, lift, roof)
• Management and managing-agent fees (administrative share)
• Compliance and home improvement works
• Staff costs that do not correspond to a service rendered to the tenant
Provisions or flat fee: how to recover charges
The landlord recovers charges in two ways, depending on the lease type. In both cases, transparency is mandatory.
1. Choose the recovery method — Actual cost with monthly provisions (unfurnished lease, the most common case): you call a provision every month, then reconcile once a year. Flat fee (furnished lease, by option): a fixed, non-adjustable amount with no reconciliation.
2. Call a consistent provision — The provision must be justified by the previous reconciliation results or the managing agent's provisional budget. A clearly overstated provision can be challenged by the tenant.
3. Reconcile once a year — Compare the total provisions collected with the actual recoverable expenses for the year. If provisions exceed expenses, you refund the surplus; otherwise you call the balance. Reconciliation is annual.
4. Share the supporting documents — One month before reconciliation, send the tenant the breakdown of charges by nature and the allocation. They may consult the supporting documents for six months. Keep invoices and managing-agent statements.
The list of recoverable charges
The decree groups recoverable charges by nature. Here are the main categories with concrete examples.
Collective water and heating
Cold and hot water for all occupants · Fuel (oil, gas) and running of the collective heating · Everyday maintenance and minor repairs of the installations
Indoor common areas
Electricity of the common areas (corridors, hall, stairs) · Cleaning and maintenance products · Caretaker's pay for the cleaning and bin duties
Outdoor areas and taxes
Maintenance of green spaces and driveways · Household waste collection (tax or fee) · Everyday maintenance of the gate and outdoor lighting
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Laubja automatically computes the gap between provisions called and actual charges, generates the reconciliation statement to hand to the tenant, and adds it to your annual accounting export. No more spreadsheets or oversights.
Create a free accountFrequently asked questions
Can the landlord recover the household waste collection tax?
Yes. The household waste collection tax or fee is among the recoverable charges of decree no. 87-713: it is owed by the landlord as part of the property tax but is recovered from the tenant.
Is the annual reconciliation of charges mandatory?
Yes, as soon as you call provisions. The landlord must reconcile at least once a year by comparing provisions and actual expenses, and send the statement to the tenant. Otherwise, the tenant may request to spread the amounts due.
Can managing-agent fees be recovered?
Not the administrative management share. Only the recoverable expenses listed by the decree (water, heating, everyday upkeep, staff assigned to a service rendered, etc.) can be, even when they pass through the managing agent.
What happens if the landlord forgets to reconcile for several years?
Unreconciled charges are time-barred after three years. The landlord may claim a catch-up within that limit, and the tenant may ask to pay in twelfths when reconciliation occurs more than a year after it fell due.
Can the flat-fee charges be reconciled?
No. The flat fee, reserved for furnished rentals and single-lease flatshares, is a fixed amount: it gives rise to neither a balance nor a refund, whatever the actual charges.
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