Partial rent payment: quittance or receipt?
A French tenant who pays only part of the rent gets a receipt (reçu), not a quittance. What the law says, what the receipt shows, and a month paid in two instalments.
Kivlo · Updated November 9, 2026 · Sources checked November 9, 2026 · 2 min read
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When a tenant pays only part of the rent, you give them a receipt (reçu), not a quittance (the French rent receipt). A quittance certifies that the month's rent and charges were paid in full. Article 21 of the law of 6 July 1989 requires the landlord to issue a receipt for a part payment; the quittance follows once the month is settled.
Quittance or receipt
| Quittance | Receipt (reçu) | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Rent and charges paid in full | Only part is paid |
| What it proves | The month is settled | A sum was received on a date |
| Duty | On the tenant's request, free | Mandatory for a part payment |
| Content | Rent and charges shown separately | Sum received, period, balance owed |
The quittance is free and separates rent from charges; article 21 also forbids charging the tenant for the rent call or the quittance. With the tenant's express consent it may be sent electronically (Service-Public).
A « partial quittance » would be a trap for you: the document says the month is paid, so the tenant holds proof that they owe you nothing for it.
What the receipt shows
The law sets no form. In practice: both parties' names and addresses and the property's, the date and amount received, the period it is applied to (« rent for May 2027 »), the total due for that period, the balance still owed, the words « receipt for part payment » and your signature. When several months are outstanding, always state which one the payment settles.
Example: a month paid in two instalments
Rent €720 plus €60 of charges, €780 due on 1 May 2027.
| Date | Payment | Document given | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May 2027 | €500 | Receipt: €500 towards May's rent | €280 |
| 21 May 2027 | €280 | Quittance for May: rent €720, charges €60 | €0 |
The quittance covers the whole month, €780, not just the second payment. If the second payment never comes, the balance is unpaid rent like any other (see late rent: when and how to chase it).
A part payment is still unpaid rent for the rest
Service-Public warns that a part payment can have the same consequences as non-payment, up to termination of the lease. The exception: a tenant who pays only their own share because their housing benefit is withheld, notably when the home is not decent. Article 7 of the 1989 law states that such a part payment, made under article L. 843-1 of the construction and housing code, is not a default. For benefit paid straight to the landlord, see housing benefit paid to the landlord in France.
Accepting part is not waiving the rest
Taking €500 out of €780 does not waive the €280 left. A receipt that states the balance protects you on that point.
Common mistakes
- Issuing the month's quittance after the first instalment to be nice.
- Leaving the balance off the receipt.
- Leaving the period vague when several months are owed.
- Giving no document at all: the receipt is mandatory as soon as a part payment comes in.
The free rent receipt template produces both documents as a PDF, with no sign-up, nothing sent or stored. If the last month's rent is left unpaid at the end of the lease, see can a tenant skip the last month's rent?.
Have your own case checked
Repeated part payments often announce lasting arrears. The local ADIL gives landlords free housing advice: talk to them before the debt builds up.
Sources
- Article 21 of law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989, quittance and receipt (Légifrance, in French)
- Article 7 of the 1989 law, paying the rent (Légifrance, in French)
- Rent quittance: how to get one, Service-Public (in French)
- Paying rent in the private sector, Service-Public (in French)
Last checked on 9 November 2026
Part payments tracked to the cent
Kivlo records every payment, even a partial one, and tells the tenant the balance still owed. The month's quittance is a one-click PDF, and from the Pro plan it goes to your tenant automatically as soon as the rent is paid.
Frequently asked questions
Can I issue a quittance for rent paid in part?
No. A quittance certifies that the rent and charges were paid in full. For a part payment, French law requires the landlord to give a receipt (reçu).
Can the landlord charge for the quittance?
No. The quittance is free, and the law forbids charging the tenant any fee for the rent call or the quittance.
Can the quittance be e-mailed?
Yes, if the tenant has expressly agreed. Otherwise it is handed over on paper.
Is a part payment an unpaid rent?
For the part still owed, yes. Service-Public says it can have the same consequences as non-payment, unless the tenant is not at fault, for instance when their housing benefit is withheld because the home is not decent.
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Kivlo
Kivlo editorial team
Updated November 9, 2026 · Sources checked November 9, 2026 · 2 min read