Tips for Booking Accommodation in France

There are N number of reasons for choosing France as your destination for building your career. By choosing to study in France, one has a chance to discover a society that is multicultural and open, proud of its history and excited for the future. Coming from different backgrounds, cultures and society, one has the potential to think differently share their views and opinions about things which are warmly welcomed and appreciated by the French. Choosing to study abroad not only helps you to understand the new way of life and culture you are in, but at an individual level, makes you a better person as you learn to appreciate the value of small things in life. In France, the host university, the French and foreign students, as well as the teachers and personnel, make sure that one has an unforgettable stay. The advantages offered by France and the services offered by French universities makes the student life easier to a great extent.

But with the increasing popularity of French study, there is a subsequent rise in the problem of accommodation for foreign students in France. The number of international students registered in France rose by 8% in 2021-2022 and went over 4 Lakh, which is recorded as the highest growth in the last 15 years. It is also estimated that France is aiming to invite 20,000 Indian students by 2025, said the French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, calling the plan “very ambitious”. So, to prevent students from facing this problem, there are some tips followed by a step-by-step guide for booking an accommodation in France.

FIRSTLY, one has to look for accommodation at the earliest because French students typically look early for their accommodation, approximately 3 months before the forthcoming semester. Because the native students prefer studying in France as compared to other European countries like Spain and UK, hence majority of the accommodation is taken by the French students.

Tips for Booking Accommodation in France

The French landlords predominantly require a “French guarantor”. One that fulfils the conditions applied that the guarantor must be staying or working in France. Now it is almost impossible for a foreign student to find a guarantor to solve this problem. So instead, the landlord asks for an upfront payment of rent of 3-6 months in advance. Although it can be a big initial expense, but it is often for the French landlord to opt for this option. Hence to avoid such big expense, there is a solution to this. A system called VISALE provides rental guarantees if one is renting an apartment or room in a university residence. Another alternative to this is GARANT ME for those not falling under the eligibility or whose landlord doesn’t accept VISALE.

Now there are different sources through which one can find the right accommodation for them. Once securing the admission, the respective representatives of the universities add you in a group of all the students admitted from your country/continent. Later they provide you with the housing and accommodation links through which one can book their place of living. Apart from these links, they also share the names of the active Facebook groups, which can also help the students in finding a house. The most popular sites for finding accommodation for students are as follows: -

In terms of accommodation, you’ll find mostly studios. French people don’t really talk about bedrooms or even rooms. French landlords use T1 or F1, T2 or F2, T3 etc to classify the apartment type. The letter T or F refers to Type or Function respectively. The number is used for the number of rooms in the accommodation but without the kitchen and the bathroom. For example, an apartment with a living room and three bedrooms is a T3. A studio is a T1 where the kitchen is a part of the main room (living room/bedroom). Now there are certain points that need to be kept in mind while booking the accommodation.

Firstly, make a list of documents required for the booking. The following documents are to be provided at the time of booking: -

Valid national identity of the tenant
Student card or proof of enrollment for the current year
Residency Permit (e.g., VLS-TS)
A letter from the guarantor & proof of guarantor’s identity

Secondly, life at the new home begins when the student and the property owner sing a lease or rental agreement setting forth the conditions under which you have the right to occupy the unit. The following details are mentioned in the agreement: -

The amount of the rent & charges (if charges are assessed)
The amount of the security deposit - equivalent to 1 month’s rent and lawfully not higher than that
The notice period - generally 1 month accepted.

In terms of accommodation, you’ll find mostly studios. French people don’t really talk about bedrooms or even rooms. French landlords use T1 or F1, T2 or F2, T3 etc to classify the apartment type. The letter T or F refers to Type or Function respectively. The number is used for the number of rooms in the accommodation but without the kitchen and the bathroom. For example, an apartment with a living room and three bedrooms is a T3. A studio is a T1 where the kitchen is a part of the main room (living room/bedroom). Now there are certain points that need to be kept in mind while booking the accommodation.

Firstly, make a list of documents required for the booking. The following documents are to be provided at the time of booking: -

Valid national identity of the tenant
Student card or proof of enrollment for the current year
Residency Permit (e.g., VLS-TS)
A letter from the guarantor & proof of guarantor’s identity

Secondly, life at the new home begins when the student and the property owner sing a lease or rental agreement setting forth the conditions under which you have the right to occupy the unit. The following details are mentioned in the agreement: -

The amount of the rent & charges (if charges are assessed)
The amount of the security deposit - equivalent to 1 month’s rent and lawfully not higher than that
The notice period - generally 1 month accepted.

NOTE: - the security deposit will be refunded if the student leaves the unit in the exact same conditions in which they found it.

As a foreign student studying in France, you have right to a ‘lodging allowance’ called APL, by the CAF (Caisse des Allocation Familiales) institute. You have to complete a form on www.caf.fr and they will keep you updated about the financial help they can offer you. The help from the CAF is a national scheme, but in some regions, you can ask the regional council if they have a scheme to offer you. Below the regional level, you have the department council that can also help you with finance and transportation. Finally, there is also the municipality council which can make your life easier with financial help.

Talking about the process of booking an accommodation, here is a step-by-step guide to followed by the student: -

Firstly, the student will go to the website of the accommodation
Next the student has to select the city/area where he/she is attending the college
Later the student can filter the list according to the budget and preferences of space.
Then the student has to go through the options available and select the rooms/apartments of your choice.
The student needs to fill in the his/her details along with that the guarantor’s details also to be filled attaching the required documents.
Lastly, the student will be submitting the file.
After submitting the file, the landlord/the campus team will be contacting the student regarding their application.

NOTE: - Multiple applications can be made by one student

Although the process of finding and booking an accommodation might seem tricky, but with the help of right guidance and right sources one can find an accommodation even before entering the country.

So, in order to get the right guidance regarding end-to-end process regarding to your student visa, contact Edugo Abroad to make your dream of studying abroad true.

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Tips for Booking Accommodation in France

NOTE: - the security deposit will be refunded if the student leaves the unit in the exact same conditions in which they found it.

NOTE: - Multiple applications can be made by one student

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