Find accommodation
Going through an agency
You can look for accommodation through an agency in the city where you want to settle. This can save you time. It will also make the search easier. The agency will have a number of homes to offer you that match your criteria.
Agencies know their area well, and they will help the lessors (= people who rent) to set reasonable prices.
The fees
The only drawback is that if you go through an estate agent, you will have to pay an agency fee. This can be expensive!
Here’s what agencies are allowed to charge you, in accordance with the Alur law:
organising visits
putting together the file
drafting the lease
the inventory of fixtures on arrival
How much does it cost?
Between individuals
If you don’t want to pay fees, it’s possible!
1) You just have to go on some ad sites:
PAP : https://www.pap.fr/
2) You can read the classifieds in the newspapers!
3) In shops such as supermarkets, bakeries, there is often a notice board with announcements!
4) Word of mouth: tell your friends and colleagues about your research!
Other sites according to your search: roommate, homestay…
Renting accommodation alone can be expensive, and it can be difficult to find when you are a student. And it is often very small.
Shared accommodation
Shared accommodation is the renting of one flat by several tenants. So if you choose a shared house, you will be living with other people.
The tenants may be related to each other: lovers (cohabitants), family members or friends. But they may not be related to each other at all.
People who are married or in a civil partnership cannot be flatmates.
If you are looking for a flat share, there is a specialised website: Appartager.com
Sharing a flat is a good way of finding cheap, fairly large accommodation.
There are also groups on Facebook like Autroisième.com and associations.
For the Paris region, there is Coopcoloc .
On La Carte des colocs you can search by location.
