French Phrase
Qu'est-ce que je dois faire en tant que locataire ?
Meaning
Literally: “What must I do as a tenant?” The sentence is used when a renter is looking for guidance on their rights, duties, or the next steps to take in a rental situation.
When to use
Use this question when you have just moved into a new apartment, when you receive a notice from your landlord, or when you need clarification about your legal responsibilities as a tenant in France.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Qu'est-cequejedoisfaireentantquelocataire?
Qu'est-ce que
Standard interrogative phrase meaning “what”. It introduces a question about a thing or action.
je
First‑person singular subject pronoun.
devoir (dois)
Present tense of the modal verb devoir, used to express obligation or advice.
faire
Infinitive verb meaning “to do / to make”. After devoir, the infinitive follows directly.
en tant que
A fixed expression meaning “as a” or “in the capacity of”. It introduces a role or status.
locataire
Noun meaning “tenant”. In French it is gender‑neutral; the article is masculine singular (un locataire) but can refer to any gender.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est-ce que je dois faire en tant que locataire ?
What should I do as a tenant?
Vous devez d'abord lire attentivement votre contrat, payer le loyer à temps et signaler tout problème d'entretien au propriétaire.
First, you should read your lease carefully, pay the rent on time, and report any maintenance issues to the landlord.
✕Common Mistakes
Qu'est-ce que je doit faire en tant que locataire ?
‘Doit’ is the third‑person singular form; with ‘je’ you need ‘dois’.
Qu'est-ce que je dois faire ?
Learners sometimes omit the whole expression, losing the nuance of speaking ‘as a tenant’.
Qu'est ce que je dois faire en tant que locataire ?
The hyphen and apostrophe placement is fixed: Qu’est‑ce que, not Qu’est ce que.
↔Alternatives
Que dois‑je faire en tant que locataire ?
What must I do as a tenant?
Quelles sont mes obligations en tant que locataire ?
What are my obligations as a tenant?
Que faut‑il que je fasse comme locataire ?
What is it that I should do as a tenant?
Cultural Tip
In France, tenant‑landlord relations are governed by the 1989 law on residential leases. Tenants have strong protection: the landlord cannot increase rent arbitrarily, and the tenant can terminate the lease with three months' notice (or one month in certain cities). Knowing these rights helps you answer the question confidently.