The day of departure is approaching, the boxes are packed, and a question arises in front of the living room ceiling light: should the bulbs be unscrewed or left in place? The answer is less about a spectacular obligation and more about a discreet legal mechanism, that of the inventory and rental repairs. If misanticipated, this detail can hinder the return of the security deposit.
1987 Decree and Rental Repairs: The Text That Decides
The question of bulbs in rental properties is not a matter of usage or simple courtesy. It is based on the decree no. 87-712 of August 26, 1987, which lists the rental repairs for which the tenant is responsible. This text includes the routine maintenance of the housing equipment, including the replacement of switches, sockets, and defective bulbs.
In practical terms, if a bulb burns out during the lease, it is the tenant’s responsibility to replace it at their own expense. This logic extends to the moment of departure: returning a property with empty sockets when bulbs were functioning at entry creates a discrepancy between the entry inventory and the exit inventory.
The question of whether one should leave the bulbs when moving out of a rental thus finds its answer in this regulatory framework rather than in a tacit agreement between landlord and tenant.
Entry and Exit Inventory: The Real Decision-Making Lever
The decree establishes the principle, but it is the inventory that determines what will actually be required upon departure. This contradictory document, signed by the tenant and the landlord (or their representative), describes the condition of the property, room by room, including equipment.
What the Entry Inventory Should Mention
A well-drafted inventory notes the presence and functioning of bulbs, light fixtures, and ceiling lights. In practice, many documents remain vague on this point, limiting themselves to “electricity: good condition” without detailing the number or type of bulbs.
This ambiguity works against the landlord: without explicit mention of the bulbs at entry, it is difficult to demand their presence at exit. The comparison between the two inventories must be precise to justify a deduction from the security deposit.
What Happens If the Bulbs Are Not Listed in the Document
Field feedback varies on this point. Some landlords consider the absence of bulbs at departure to be a degradation, while others overlook it. The financial risk for the tenant remains limited (the cost of a few bulbs), but it can fuel a broader climate of dispute regarding the overall condition of the property.
The strongest recommendation: photograph each room with visible bulbs on the day of entry, then reproduce that condition upon departure.
Security Deposit and Disputes: The Real Cost of a Missing Bulb
Removing the bulbs before returning the keys does not, in itself, trigger a heavy procedure. However, it can serve as a pretext for the landlord to extend the list of deductions from the deposit, especially if other points of the inventory are contested.
- The landlord can charge the replacement of missing bulbs against the security deposit, provided they supply a justification (invoice or estimate).
- The amount deducted must correspond to the actual replacement cost, not an inflated flat-rate estimate.
- In case of disagreement, the tenant can refer the matter to the departmental conciliation commission before considering legal action.
- The deadline for returning the security deposit is governed by law: one month if the exit inventory matches the entry inventory, two months otherwise.
The real issue is not the price of an LED bulb. It is the overall image that the tenant conveys to the landlord during the exit inventory. A property returned clean, with all bulbs in place and functional, significantly reduces the risk of abusive deductions.
Furnished Rentals: A Special Case for Bulbs and Equipment
In furnished rentals, the situation differs significantly. The lease comes with a detailed inventory of furniture and equipment, which generally includes light fixtures and their bulbs. This inventory holds the same value as an inventory for the furniture.
The tenant must return each item listed in the inventory in a condition corresponding to normal wear and tear. A burned-out bulb that is not replaced can thus be noted as a discrepancy, just like a missing kitchen utensil or a detached curtain.
For furnished rentals, checking the inventory line by line before departure remains the most reliable method. Bulbs are often listed more explicitly than in a standard empty rental inventory.
Which Bulbs to Leave, Which to Take
Not all bulbs have the same status. The distinction is based on what was present at entry and what the tenant has added on their own.
- Bulbs installed in fixtures provided by the landlord (ceiling lights, fixed wall sconces) must remain in place.
- Floor lamps, desk lamps, or any lighting purchased by the tenant belong to them, bulbs included.
- If the tenant has replaced an incandescent bulb with a more efficient LED, they can theoretically return a bulb equivalent to the original, but leaving the LED in place is often simpler and better perceived.
The criterion remains the same: return the property in a condition as close as possible to that described at entry, normal wear and tear deducted.
Leaving the bulbs behind when departing is more of a preventive reflex than a heavy constraint. The cost is negligible, the gesture eliminates a source of friction with the landlord, and the exit inventory is simplified. In the face of a meticulous landlord or an agency accustomed to deductions, this detail weighs more than it seems.