Even before you make your Parcoursup or eCandidat wishes, it's the anecdote that everyone likes to tell us: "You'll see, Paris is such a pain to find an apartment in". It's true that when it comes to housing, the capital's reputation is no longer as good as it used to be: with demand outstripping supply, you inevitably find yourself having to endure group visits and other inconveniences when trying to find a place to live in the Paris region. So, to give you the best chance of success, here are a few tips that we hope will help you find accommodation in Paris or the Ile-de-France region:
Don't forget to include the essentials in your file: your identity card, school certificate or student card if you have one, work contract if you're on a sandwich course and proof of address (electricity bill, last three rent receipts or affidavit if you're still living with your parents). For your guarantors, the same applies: provide proof of income, including the last three pay slips for each guarantor (or, failing that, the last two balance sheets if your guarantor is self-employed, proof of benefits, etc.), together with identification for each.
Guarantors are always a tricky business, because on average, landlords and estate agents require at least one guarantor to have at least three times the net rental income you're aiming for on their payslips. Given the high cost of rent in Paris, not everyone is so lucky, so make sure you have the Visale guarantee, the official government guarantee. Although some landlords refuse to accept it, it is increasingly accepted, so give it a try!
Then all you have to do is check your file on Dossier Facile, a free service where it is verified and certified by the French government.
We can't stress this enough, but given the demand, the vast majority of owners operate on a "first come, first served" basis, and we understand when they receive several hundred messages for a rental. Write down in your notes a standard message to be sent to each ad that suits you, indicating your situation (student in such and such a school, on work-study or not), the nature of your guarantors (parents, grandparents...), that you are interested in the accommodation and that you can send your application within ten minutes.
Le Bon Coin is the essential platform for finding a rental, but there are plenty of others too. Here's a list of the most popular:
The good news is that there's a free application that lets you receive all these listings and set up notifications according to your criteria (price, surface area, location...): it's Jinka, available on Android or iOS.
And don't forget Facebook groups, which can also help you: Good housing deals Paris, Paris : flatshare, rental, sublet, apartment
Depending on where you currently live, this can be complicated: nevertheless, nothing beatsbeing present on the day of the visit (if possible accompanied by a guarantor) so that the agency or private individual can meet you. Visits by video are also possible, but unfortunately, given the demand, you're less likely to get the apartment in the end. Be early or on time, with your printed file in your hands, or having e-mailed it in advance of your visit!
Given the price of renting in Paris, and often in the suburbs (even far away), sharing a flat is a particularly attractive and less expensive option, provided you like communal living (at least a minimum).
Our favorite sites for finding a flat-share:
Plus the Facebook groups mentioned above.
For a solution that's a little less costly and a little more supportive, intergenerational housing is a great option: many associations and platforms offer it. The advantage is that you're sharing time with an elderly person who's now living on their own, so you can do a good deed and save money.
Associations and platforms to turn to:
Given the competition for housing, you can be sure that you're far from the only one interested in the property in question. You'll make up your own mind when you visit, and above all, don't be too picky if you really want to find something.
Advertisements with very attractive rents - almost too attractive - are often scams. Never, ever send money online or otherwise if you haven't met the owner of the property you're interested in: they're scams.
Why not live in the suburbs? Rents are cheaper and if you have good transport links to university, that's a real advantage. Don't forget to ask about metro stops close to your accommodation in advance and to check (especially if you're taking the intramuros): if you have a direct metro, bus or RER line to the university, you're all set!
It may sound silly, but apartment hunting takes a lot of wear and tear: always be very reactive and try to be available for visits as much as possible, send your rental file in PDF format as soon as you have an e-mail address where you can do so... Yes, finding a place to live in Paris is almost a stroke of luck, it's long and tedious, but you'll always find one in the end: so don't give up, it's only a matter of time!
What if you don't find what you're looking for?
In spite of everything, every year many students find themselves without accommodation on the eve or D-day of the start of their new academic year... It's far from an easy situation, so we've come up with a few solutions to help you find an apartment once you're in France.
Students without accommodation: what are the alternatives as the new school year approaches?
In Paris, finding accommodation when you're a student is almost mission impossible. Every time an ad is posted, hundreds of applications are sent out, and it's often difficult to get the best deal. We've come up with a few alternatives to get you by. [Read more]
Students without accommodation: what are the alternatives as the new school year approaches?
