In rural leases, the general rule assigns the farmer the responsibility for regular maintenance and the landlord the responsibility for major repairs. However, this can become complicated when major repairs are the result of failing to manage wildlife, such as beavers. A recent legal case in France has clarified this issue, involving a pond whose levee collapsed due to beaver activity. According to article L415-4 of the rural code, tenants are only responsible for local maintenance or minor upkeep, provided these are not caused by aging, construction defects, material flaws, or force majeure. All other repairs fall under the landlord's responsibility. Importantly, any lease clause contradicting this rule is considered invalid, as stated in article L.415-12 of the Rural Code. The case in question centered on a pond whose levee collapsed, leading to its drying up. The tenant sought compensation for the inability to use the land as intended, while the landlords wanted to terminate the lease, blaming the tenant for not adequately controlling the beaver population. The Court of Cassation, in a ruling dated July 2, 2026, applied the relevant principles to this situation. The court examined the circumstances and found that the pond was over 25 years old and lacked an anti-beaver lining, which was a construction defect. This meant that the major repairs required to refill the pond were the landlord's responsibility. On the other hand, the court noted that beavers had been hunted and trapped for a decade, and the levee had undergone minor repairs by the previous operator. This indicated that the tenant had fulfilled their obligation for "local repairs or minor maintenance," and no fault could be attributed to them. The landlords, however, had not carried out the necessary major repairs on the levee. As a result, they were required to compensate the farmer for the damages incurred. This ruling reinforces the legal framework that clearly defines the responsibilities of both parties in rural leases. It emphasizes that while tenants are expected to handle minor upkeep, major repairs—especially those stemming from infrastructure defects—remain the landlord's duty. The case also highlights the importance of maintaining infrastructure to prevent issues caused by natural factors, such as beaver activity.