Can the seat of an association be the home of one of its members?

Verified 06 February 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You are an officer of the association or one of its members and want to know if your head office can be in your home? Yes, the registered office of the association can be fixed at your home, whether you are the owner or tenant of your home. We explain the rules to follow.

You own your home and it is in a condominium

In this case, the fact that an association has its address within a condominium leads to compliance with certain rules.

Domiciliation must not infringe the rights of other co-owners and cause neighborhood disturbances.

In addition, it must comply with the condominium by-law, in particular the rules on the use of units (residential or commercial use) and common areas. Indeed, as a co-owner, you must obtain the agreement of the other co-owners before change the assignment of your condominium lot (transition from residential to associative use). This is the case when the activity of the association is carried out within your home.

Please note

By providing part of your accommodation, you can ask the association for compensation. Thus, on proof, the association can pay you a rent and reimburse you the charges that you have advanced on its behalf (water, electricity, telephone, internet,...).)

You own your home and it is not in a condominium

You are free to reside at the registered office of your association in your home.

You do not need permission to do this.

Please note

By providing part of your accommodation, you can ask the association for compensation. Thus, on proof, the association can pay you a rent and reimburse you the charges you have advanced on its behalf (water, electricity, telephone, internet,...).)

You are a tenant

A rental contract cannot prohibit a tenant from carrying out an associative activity.

Thus, the registered office of an association can be fixed at your home and you do not need the authorization of your owner.

However, if your address is that of the association, you must respect your obligations towards your landlord and other tenants or neighbors.

Domiciliation must not lead to the creation of noise nuisance in the event of meetings, irregular occupation of the common,... areas

Housing must remain your place of residence. It cannot become the place of the effective activity of the association by transforming the housing into an office. Otherwise, the lease agreement could be terminated.

By making part of your accommodation available, you can ask the association for a compensation. Thus, on proof, the association can pay you a rent and reimburse you the charges you have advanced on its behalf (water, electricity, telephone, internet,...).) To do this, as a tenant, you must have a sublease authorization.

When you are a tenant, your rental agreement may limit the use of the accommodation to strictly personal use. If the lease prohibits the subletting or hosting of an associative activity, the written agreement of the lessor is necessary.

Reminder

The registered office must be indicated in the statutes of the association or in the declaration to the prefecture.
The choice of the registered office determines the territorial jurisdiction competent for certain administrative or judicial procedures of the association.
If the association change head office (for example, because the member hosting the head office moves), a amendment of the statutes and one new declaration to the prefecture are necessary.
The registered office of an association may also be in a municipal building such as the town hall , in institutional premises (school, library,...) but also in a commercial or private office. The same is true in Alsace-Moselle or the location of the seat is freely chosen.