préavis

préavis is a French term that refers to a notice period required before the termination of a contract or the change of a legal situation. The notice aims to give the parties involved time to prepare for the upcoming change, to find a replacement, or to fulfill obligations that remain pending.

In employment law, the préavis is the period an employee or employer must give to the other party before ending the employment relationship. The minimum duration is set by French labour legislation and depends on the length of service and the employee’s contract. An employer may have to pay compensation if they do not satisfy the required notice period. Similarly, workers can ask for the same protection. Some collective bargaining agreements or individual contracts extend or reduce these terms, especially for senior staff or temporary workers.

For residential leases, the préavis applies when either the tenant or the landlord wishes to terminate the lease. French law specifies a standard notice of three months for private rentals in metropolitan France. In the case of the tenant, the notice period starts from the month the notice was given. The land‑lord can choose a shorter period under certain circumstances, such as a vacancy, renovation, or a need for the unit in situ.

Within commercial contracts, a préavis is a common clause that obliges one party to notify the other before terminating an agreement. The length and conditions of the notice are usually negotiated and written in the contract. In some cases, the notice period can be the mutual agreement of the parties, or it can be imposed by a governing regulation or court order.

The préavis is not limited to employment or housing. It also appears in other areas, such as intellectual property licensing, civil procedure, and civil status changes. In all these contexts, the purpose remains the same: provide advance notification, reduce uncertainty, protect the rights of each party, and give time for planning and coping with the transition.