Whatever the accommodation, it is better to book in advance. We advise you to book for one month; This is a comfortable length of time to find permanent accommodation.

We have selected several options for you:

Hotel 

The hotel is a suitable solution for a single person or a couple, and for a short stay. If, however, you have to stay there with family, choose hotels close to amenities: restaurants, laundry, a park to entertain your children, etc., the residence hotel, also known as an aparthotel, like the Citadines, or Adagio offer booking flexibility and the comfort of an apartment.

The advantages: With this type of accommodation, you have no agency fees or deposit to pay, and you can find an apartment suited to your needs in a very short time. You can also negotiate a decreasing rate if you stay for more than a month. A solution particularly suitable for families, whatever the length of stay. You will find this type of accommodation near major cities.

The disadvantages: The costs remain high and you do not have a permanent address for a main residence to give for opening a bank account or other administrative procedures.

Seasonal rental

Winter or summer, you can take advantage of this mode of rental at a lower cost.

The advantages: Campsites, lodges, bed and breakfasts. Seasonal accommodations offer great alternatives because you don't have to sign a lease. You have a furnished property adapted to your budget and the comfort your family is looking for. The offer is very wide and the environment often pleasant, especially in rural areas. The spring is coming? : renting a mobile home in a campsite for several months. In general, in the South of France, campsites remain open until at least October 31. The other significant advantage of seasonal rental is that you are directly in contact with your new place of life: the neighbors, the shopkeepers, your landlord... So many people who can give you informed advice on how to discover the region, and why not, find your future home?

The disadvantages: The tourist tax can increase the bill when you stay for a long period, and the choice is more limited in high season in tourist regions. Better to book in advance on platforms like Airbnb.

Furnished Rental - Temporary Accommodation

Depending on the length of your stay, you can choose a furnished rental. If you are returning or arriving in France for a short or long stay, it is best to opt for a furnished rental.

The advantages: A temporary solution will give you time to find permanent accommodation.
You should also know that in France, many types of housing are offered to expatriates. Some companies can offer so-called ready to live in apartments, that is to say fully furnished, and equipped right down to linens.

The disadvantages: A furnished apartment will be more expensive on a monthly basis but it will save you development costs.

Colocation

Returning French nationals from abroad to France is not always easy. Short stay? Shared accommodation can save you money by living in one space user-friendly !

The advantages: A temporary solution, of course, but if you have income and cannot cover the full rent, the most appropriate solution is shared accommodation. This is a highly coveted alternative in large cities like Paris, due to the amount of rent.

The disadvantages: A colocation contract requires certain rules:

• In the event that one of the co-tenants does not pay his share of the rent or if he refuses to pay it, the owner of the property cannot take him to court or force him to pay the amount. However he will go to the wealthiest tenant to obtain the unpaid share.
• To this end, each tenant should carefully select their new roommate because if the latter is a bad payer, no legal recourse is available to them. This is why it is important that roommates ask newcomers for supporting documents, including the source and proof of their income.
• Even if the tenant decides to move, whatever the nature of their stay, the solidarity clause is still valid for up to six months. If necessary, this period can be interrupted if a new roommate has just signed a rental contract.
• Pay attention to insurance: each roommate must be covered.

Student? Young worker ? Looking for accommodation?

There is accommodation for students, hostels and social residences for young workers. To find out the steps to follow to request a student accommodation, contact the CROUS. The international university campus in Paris offers accommodation to masters and doctoral students every year. For more information on prices and admission conditions, consult the university sites and other links given below.

Unfurnished Rental

Are you looking for private or unfurnished rental accommodation?

Unfurnished property is generally less expensive, a significant cost in the long term. Depending on the property, its surface area and the quality of the furniture, there can be a difference of 10 to 20% on the rental price.

The Process of Renting a House or Apartment

You will need to give yourself a few months to find a long-term rental that meets your needs if you are looking in Paris or one of the larger cities, as it can be very expensive. A few weeks may be appropriate for other regions of France.

As many owners and real estate agents are on vacation in August, the best time to search for an apartment in France is between May and July. September and October can be a difficult time to search for housing if you decide to move to a college town, as this is the time when students start their new semester, return to the area, and sweep through most available housing .

You have several options and it is quite possible to use several simultaneously.

The town hall

You can contact the Town Hall where you are located who can provide you with useful information for your research.

Real estate agencies

If your budget allows it, you can use the services of a real estate agent to assist you in your quest. Typically, agencies charge a fee equivalent to one month's rent, but on the upside, the process can be simpler than negotiating directly with a landlord. If you're in a hurry to find accommodation or trying to find a place on your own, this may also be more convenient.

You can consult real estate advertisements in the national, regional or local press placed by individuals or real estate agencies. Real estate agencies offer support for the tenant throughout the stay, a wide range of accommodation, help in finding accommodation (visits, drafting rental contracts, inventory), and many other flexible services. This type of service is provided for example by Paris Attitude.

The best is therefore to contact a real estate agency in the event that the expatriate returns to the country for a long stay. Indeed, an agency offers a wide range of real estate for sale or rental. This is a solution if you are looking for an apartment.

However, agency fees are high. They vary depending on the surface area occupied and the region in which you wish to settle, but they can reach €900. This is explained by the support of the tenant from the beginning to the end of the file, the flexibility of the rental, the diversity of the choice of the apartment...

Furthermore, it is strongly recommended to have a permanent contract if you wish to be accepted by a real estate agency. The insurer, after analyzing the financial situation of the future tenant, validates or refuses your file. It is important to consult several agencies to assess which one will best meet your expectations and needs.

From Individual to Individual

If you choose to go from individual to individual, this will allow you to be accepted not necessarily only with a permanent contract but also to avoid agency fees. However, this does not mean that the individual will be more flexible than an agency; you should know that individuals also have their requirements.

In all cases, it is crucial to sign a lease contract and request rent receipts. You also have to think about paying the deposit.

These measures are preventive because you do not yet know the owner well.

Websites 

Many sites in France and internationally list real estate advertisements by city, departments and regions.

Social networks

Talk to other expats, colleagues or acquaintances once you have an idea of where you'd like to live, to see if they know of any vacancies. Through word of mouth, several apartments are recommended, and you may be able to find a place before it even hits the market. This method, of course, is simpler if you already have a support network in France.

Classifieds

The classifieds pages of different local magazines and newspapers are excellent choices for finding accommodation to rent in France but keep in mind that there is fierce competition. The best method is to obtain a copy of the classified ads as soon as they are posted and contact the owner immediately. Your call will not be answered by many owners, so it's up to you to be persistent.

Tips Prior to First Contact

Before you connect with anyone, make sure you familiarize yourself with real estate jargon. Learn to ask for the floor, number of rooms and whether the apartment is furnished (furnished).

Ask for Help

Many associations, the services of your embassy, your employer, your university or school, and other paying solutions such as concierge services, France Global Relocation can help you find accommodation. Some real estate agencies, such as Paris Attitude, specialize in the temporary rental of furnished properties in the Paris region. They have multilingual services and often offer support and concierge services in their services. A very useful help to finally put down your luggage!

The procedures

Before you start, according to your choice, rental for students, short stay, long stay, furnished or unfurnished rental, flatshare, purchase, whatever your choice, you will have to compile your file.

The lease file

You will need to be able to provide documents to prove your income and supporting documents before starting your search.

• Proof of identity: residence permit, identity document, passports,
• A proof of situation: your employment contract and potentially the validation certificate of your trial period if you have just started a new activity,
• Proof of address: the last 3 rent receipts, last property tax notice or a property title,
  Proof of income: your last three pay slips,
• A digital guarantee: to rent in France, you need a guarantor, it is a natural or legal person who supports you financially and/or will replace you in the event of unpaid rent. Call SmartGarant or similar financial services to make it easier to obtain a guarantee and reassure your future owner.

Supporting documents

The landlord may require some supporting documents to be sure of your financial stability. These additional documents to be provided are essentially:

• Employment contract/employer certificate,
• The latest tax notice,
• Identity card or family book,
• A bank identity statement (called RIB in France),
• Rent receipts from the previous rental.

Guarantee and guarantor

A security deposit may also be required. It must appear on the lease contract and cannot exceed 2 months' rent excluding charges for furnished accommodation, and 1 month rent excluding charges for an unfurnished apartment.

In France, it is not uncommon for a guarantor to be requested even if the latter is not a legal obligation. The guarantor may reside outside of French territory and may not be of French nationality. The lessor or owner has the right to request documents from the guarantor:

• The list of documents cited above,
• A copy of his property tax notice.

To summarize, if you are preparing your return, it is possible to find accommodation but you must remember to provide the documents listed above.

Signature of the rental lease

You have found accommodation, the landlord has accepted your file, you must sign a rental lease and make an inventory. You can do this directly with the owner, but going through a notary is preferable.
Don't forget to take photos during the inventory and in the days that follow. It is not uncommon to make "discoveries" the following days. Sent these to the notary and owner. These documents will allow you to obtain repairs and above all to prove the problems and conditions existing at the time of the inventory. Many owners find excuses to keep your guarantee when you leave, during the exit inventory and upon receipt of the exit inventory report you will have the documents to protect you. We give you more information in the Practical Guide under the heading : "inventory of fixtures, entry and exit of a rental" .

Water, gas, electricity, telephone, mobile, the internet, bank account...

Whether you are alone or with others, you will need to take out contracts for water, gas and electricity. These procedures are quick but require finding good suppliers and making a few phone calls. Nothing complicated (as long as you speak French or English). Afterwards, you will need to open bank accounts, your telephone line and the internet.

Si vous voulez louer un logement dans le secteur privé, renseignez-vous sur la procédure et vos droits.

Si vous voulez demander un logement social, renseignez-vous sur la procédure.

Vous pouvez vous renseigner sur les aides pour le dépôt de garantie ou la caution d'un logement en location.

Vous pouvez également vous renseigner sur les conditions d'obtention d'une allocation logement.

Que vous deveniez propriétaire ou locataire, vous devez aussi penser à un contrat d'assurance habitation.

If you want to rent a home in the private sector, ask about the procedure and your rights.

If you want to apply for social housing, ask about the procedure.

You can inquire about the aid for the lodging of a security or security for a rental unit.

You can also inquire about the requirements for obtaining a housing allowance.

Whether you become a landlord or a tenant, you also need to think about a home insurance contract.

BON À SAVOIR 

Good to know 

Les démarches seront différentes selon votre nationalité. The procedures will be different depending on your nationality.

The France Tourism Development Agency https://www.france.fr/en

www.atout-france.fr