End of the professional lease

Verified 12 May 2026 - Entreprendre Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The lessee may terminate the professional lease agreement at any time. On the other hand, the lessor must wait a minimum of 6 years to terminate the lease and give his tenant leave. In addition, the assignment and sublease of the lease are possible under certain conditions.

The landlord is engaged mandatory for a period of 6 years.

After this period, if he does not wish to renew the contract, he must give leave to his tenant by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt or by act issued by a commissioner of justice with 6 months' notice.

Unlike the commercial lease, there is no right to renewal of the professional lease. Thus, when the landlord decides not to renew the professional lease, he does not have to justify his decision to the tenant or to pay him compensation.

Please note

If the tenant or landlord do not give leave at the end of the 6-year period, the lease contract is automatically renewed (“tacit renewal”) for an additional 6 years.

The tenant can break the professional lease contract at any time.

It must then notify the landlord its intention to leave the premises within a period of 6 months notice. This notice is sent either by registered letter with request for acknowledgement of receipt or by deed issued by a commissioner of justice.

The tenant has the right to assign his professional lease unless prohibited by a clause of the contract.

He must then inform the landlord according to the conditions laid down in the lease contract (e.g. notification by act of commissioner of justice, deadline to be respected, etc.). In the absence of precision, a registered letter with AR is sufficient.

The contract may also authorize the assignment of the lease by the tenant under specific conditions: for example, the prior agreement of the lessor on the identity and solvency of the successor or the drafting of a authentic act.

Tableau - Differences between professional and commercial leases

Professional lease

Commercial lease

Early termination of the lease

  • The tenant can break early, with a notice of 6 months by registered letter with AR or by act of commissioner of justice
  • The landlord is hired for 6 years. After this period, he can terminate with notice of 6 months by registered letter with AR or by act of commissioner of justice
  • The tenant can give leave to the expiry of each triennium (3 years, 6 years, 9 years), at least 6 months in advance, by registered letter with AR or by act of commissioner of justice.
  • The lessor may resume the premises in the following cases:
    • Takeover of the building to rebuild
    • Elevation of the building
    • Resumption to demolish an unsanitary or dilapidated building
    • Taking over the building to transform it into residential space.

Renewal of the lease

  • Automatic renewal (tacit) if neither party gives leave
  • No right to renewal for the tenant. In case of refusal of renewal by the lessor, no compensation to be paid or justification.
  • Right to lease renewal the terms of the lease agreement.
  • If the lessor does not renew the lease, he must pay a eviction pay unless the tenant has not complied with his obligations (failure to operate effectively or non-payment of rent)

Assignment of the lease

Possible unless prohibited by the lease agreement.

The lessor cannot refuse the assignment of the commercial lease at the time of the sale of the business.

In most cases, the lessor must give its consent before the transfer.