Finding a place to live in France can be a difficult task to say the least. Having been through the process several times myself, it is important that you are ready to call and visit the place as soon as it gets published. Try to be the first to visit and have your dossier ready with your check book.
This post is part of a series about France:
Part 1: Ultimate reasons to consider early retirement in France
Part 2: Best Fire places in France
Part 3: How to successfully settle for FIRE in France?
Part 4: How to secure the perfect rental property in France?
Tips for finding housing in France
The French rental market is unique. Landlords or retail estate agents ask to provide many documents before you can rent a place. You likely will have to justify a sufficient income. Rent shouldn’t be over 1/3 of your net income. If you failed to have a CDI (Contrat à Durée Indéterminée), you will have to present a guarantor. Landlords are very cautious when renting their place, because French Law protects tenants more than landlords. Indeed, it can take months or years to evict someone who doesn’t pay his rent, whereas it would be a matter of weeks in other countries.
Determine your search criteria
Before you start looking for a place to live, it is important to determine your search criteria. Common criteria include the type of housing you are looking for, the number of bedrooms, your budget, proximity to public transportation, and the presence of amenities such as a balcony, parking or a pool. Once you’ve determined your criteria, you can focus on accommodations that meet your specific needs.
Use specialized websites
In France, there are many websites that specialize in rental properties. These sites allow you to filter the results according to your search criteria, which makes it much easier to find a home that meets your needs. Here is a list of some specialized websites: Le Bon Coin, Se Loger, Logic Immo, Lokeo, Particuliers a Particuliers …
Most sites also offer alerts to let you know when new homes matching your criteria become available. So use it so you can get automatic notifications and follow your favourite properties.
Take the time to visit the homes
While it may be tempting to rent quickly to avoid wasting time, it is important to take the time to visit the homes you are interested in. Viewings allow you to see the property, check the condition of the unit, make sure the area is suitable for your needs and ask questions of the landlord. If you are looking for a home from a distance, you can also arrange virtual visits with the owners or real estate agents.
Get your “Dossier” ready when visiting
Bring your ‘Dossier’ with you and with all required documents. It can really make the difference. For my first rental in Paris, I arrived as early as I could. There were already a few people visiting the studio. I have visited so many places before, so I knew within 10 seconds that I was happy with the place. Thus, I made an offer on the spot. The landlord was surprised, and asked the previous visitors if anyone was interested. Naturally a few persons said they were interested too. I then handed over my ‘Dossier’. Fortunately, no one ahead of me had their ‘Dossier’ readily available. So I just got the place.
Mandatory documents
These documents are mandatory, and it is normal to present to a landlord or real estate agent.
- Copy of your ID or passport
- Last 3 salary proof, and employer certificate
- Proof of current address
You can have a copy of these documents. You can also choose to create your Dossier online with a service provided by the French Government. All the information are available at https://www.dossierfacile.fr/.
Getting a guarantor
Although it is not mandatory, it would definitely reinforce your application for renting a place. A guarantor can be a person or a company who undertakes to pay the rent in case the tenant fails to pay. However, it is not always easy to find a relative willing to take on this responsibility. Fortunately, it is possible to use a private guarantor such as Cautioneo. Indeed, Cautioneo acts like a GLI (Garantie Loyer Impayé), e.g. an insurance that most landlords buy to protect themselves in case of non-payment. Thus, using Cautioneo can help you find housing more easily by reassuring landlords. Landlords may be more inclined to rent their property to a tenant with a guarantor. Furthermore, this is beneficial for tenants whose situation or profile is sometimes atypical.
Optional documents
These documents are optional in theory. But it can strengthen your application if you share those. It is up to you decide if you are comfortable to present.
- Last tax statement (and/or the one of your guarantor)
- Student card
- Residency proof
- Copy of ID of guarantor
- Previous rental payment slips
- Any other document which can make you stand out
Beware of scams – Sensitive documents
To avoid identity theft, you should refrain from sharing all the above documents in a digital format without a watermark. Moreover, stay cautious if you have been asked to provide sensitive documents, such as:
- Picture ID
- Carte vitale
- Bank statements
- Medical record
- Criminal record
- Cash to reserve the place
Bold move – Pay several months upfront
If you have a very atypical status (low income but some savings), you may consider this option to secure a place. However, this practice is not common and it might surprise the landlord or agent. Please note that it is forbidden by law for the landlord or agent to ask for it, but acceptable if suggested by the potential tenant.
In Paris, a desperate single mother with her daughter was ready to pay upfront for 1 year of rental, as mentioned in this article from Le Parisien Newspaper. I agree that it sounds incredible, but it is actually a very common practice in Dubai to pay your rent for the year in 1, 2 or 4 checks.
Don’t hesitate to negotiate
If you have found a place you like but the rent is slightly out of your budget, don’t hesitate to negotiate with the landlord or real estate agent. You can ask for a reduction of rent or fees, or even try to negotiate a shorter or longer trial period. Be respectful and polite in your requests, but don’t be afraid to discuss the terms of the rental agreement.
What have been your challenges to find a place? What make a difference to get the place? Please share in the comment section below your winning strategy to get the place of your dreams!
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