Housing in France (Logement)

Finding the right accommodation especially in new city or country for that matter can be quite daunting, coupled with the stress of the move. This section gives you a brief overview of what to expect when searching for accommodation in France, the different kinds of accommodation possible, lease agreements, required documents and useful sites to search for available accommodation.

Housing Types

In France, like other countries, location is a key factor as it drives other aspects like price and availability. The main types of accommodation are:

  • Appartements
  • Houses.

The percentage of each of these two depends on the city and or neighborhood. If you are renting, you also have two options:

  • Unfurnished – empty apartment, kitchen is also absent most times.
  • furnished accommodation.

If you are using an agent, it is important to specify the important criteria but be ready to make compromises between a must-have and nice-to-have. Other types or accommodation depending on need are Co-location (sharing) and Student Residences.

Tenancy Agreement (Bail)

The tenancy agreement also known as ‘Bail’ depends on the accommodation types

  • Unfurnished – Standard duration is three years and auto-renewable for an additional three years.
  • Furnished – lease duration is one year.

Deposit (Guarantie)

An important aspect of lease agreements is that you pay a deposit:

  • Unfurnished accommodation – equivalent of one month rent
  • Furnished – usually the equivalent of two months’ rent.

This is a guaranty in case of damage to the property during your stay which isn’t fixed before you leave. The best way to have 100% of your deposit is to have the accommodation back in the state you meet it. This is captured in the ‘Etat des Lieux’ document which contains details of the house when you moved in.

Rent (loyer)

  • The loyer is paid in advance on a monthly basis, typically at the beginning of the month.
  • You may also need to pay for charges, which are mostly included in the rent but itemized separately on the lease agreements.

Required Documents

When searching your accommodation in France, a file is opened for your (dossier) to determine your eligibility and ability to rent the requested accommodation. The following are used in the constitution of your dossier

  • Government issued ID card (International Passport)
  • Resident Permit
  • Marriage certificate (if requesting as a couple)
  • Proof of income (3x higher than the rent and charges) – Previous 3-months Pay slips (bulletin de paie)
  • Signed employment contract
  • Last tax declaration
  • guarantor form (if applying as a student)

Some Useful sites

Using an agent to find accommodation can take a lot of stress off the process and can help quickly constitute your dossier and position you favorably. It however costs a small fortune which you may not be willing to spend if you are on a low budget.

The following are very popular but useful sites to check for availability if different accommodation types with the flexibility of including a wide range of criteria. The sites are useful even when the service of a agent is employed.

  • www.seloger.com
  • www.bienici.com
  • www.leboncoin.com