How to find a flat in Paris
Voici quelques conseils pour vous aider à trouver un appartement à Paris:
- Définir les priorités
de la recherche : l’emplacement, la surface et le prix. Ce n’est pas la
peine de courir à travers Paris en visitant chaque l’appartement figurant dans
les annonces. - Etre prêt aux compromis. A certain moment, tu seras obligé à
le faire. Moi, au bout d’un mois, j’ai abandonné l’idée d’avoir une machine à
laver dans un appartement, ainsi que
augmenter mon budget. - Don’t give up and
keep calm! Même si tu as déjà visité 20 d’appartements. C’est pas
grave, continu ! - Concernant le dossier que tu dois fournir, il faut
absolument apporter beaucoup-BEAUCOUP de papier surtout concernant ta situation
financière. Apres il faut juste espérer et continuer ta recherche ! - Lors des visites des appartements, il faut donner une
impression d’être quelqu’un de très responsable et sérieux (si ce n’est pas tes
trais naturelles, il faut prétendre). - Les meilleurs sites de trouver un appartement via les
particuliers (www.pap.fr ou www.leboncoin.fr) et via les agences (www.seloger.fr)
Two years ago I searched for every
little hint on what to do to find an apartment in Paris. I had never thought that it could be so difficult!
little hint on what to do to find an apartment in Paris. I had never thought that it could be so difficult!
I can say that you are very lucky if you have a French garant
or if your salary 3 times higher than a rent of a flat per month. But what
if you are a foreign student without any relatives who can be garants
for you and no salary… That was my case.
I will talk about my experience of finding a flat in Paris, so it doesn’t mean
that it is a unique rule for everyone. I
wished to rent an apartment not far from my university which meant 16th or 8th
arrondissements
(17th at least) where prices are relatively higher than in 10th or 11th arrondissements for example. Anyway, I counted on finding an apartment
of 20 m2 (at least)
for 700€ max (very naive).
that it is a unique rule for everyone. I
wished to rent an apartment not far from my university which meant 16th or 8th
arrondissements
(17th at least) where prices are relatively higher than in 10th or 11th arrondissements for example. Anyway, I counted on finding an apartment
of 20 m2 (at least)
for 700€ max (very naive).
Announcement #1
“Jolie appartement dans un immeuble haussmannien”
This must be the flat of my dream…- I thought
I don’t know about you, but before
coming to Paris I looked at beautiful pictures of Parisian buildings and
thought that once I was in Paris, I would find a flat in such beaux batiments with a cute balcony.
coming to Paris I looked at beautiful pictures of Parisian buildings and
thought that once I was in Paris, I would find a flat in such beaux batiments with a cute balcony.
The thing is that these marvelous
houses, the one we can see on the first line, are 100m2 apartments. So even
if they are on rent, you can imagine that the offer isn’t really interesting
for students. Behind these buildings, there is the second line of houses. These
one are smaller and more modest. They are for rent!
houses, the one we can see on the first line, are 100m2 apartments. So even
if they are on rent, you can imagine that the offer isn’t really interesting
for students. Behind these buildings, there is the second line of houses. These
one are smaller and more modest. They are for rent!
Disappointment #1
The 7th floor without a lift is not the
worst thing…
worst thing…
It happens very often that in real
estate announcements they forget to mention that there is no lift in the
building. How come? In fact, buildings of the second line as well as upper
floors of the houses from the first line used to be occupied by servants (chambre
de bonne). That means a back door entry, small rooms, shabby stairs and walls,
and sometimes no lift (hard to imagine nowadays, but there is simply not enough
of space). The most shocking thing for me was that there might be no WC in the
flat. Where are they? Sur le palier! In other words, in the common corridor. It’s your private WC and you have a key…And
last but not least: the rent is 650€ min.
estate announcements they forget to mention that there is no lift in the
building. How come? In fact, buildings of the second line as well as upper
floors of the houses from the first line used to be occupied by servants (chambre
de bonne). That means a back door entry, small rooms, shabby stairs and walls,
and sometimes no lift (hard to imagine nowadays, but there is simply not enough
of space). The most shocking thing for me was that there might be no WC in the
flat. Where are they? Sur le palier! In other words, in the common corridor. It’s your private WC and you have a key…And
last but not least: the rent is 650€ min.
Announcement #2
The 6th floor, lift, WC…
Thanks God!
Disappointment #2
 |
| Раньше подумала бы, что это очень забавная шутка |
The announcement was correct and the
flat (12 m2) really had everything. But
there was a small problem: WC, shower cabin were located in the kitchen. Just
imagine how convenient it is: there is a cooker in front of you, a toilet on
your left and a shower cabin on your right…
flat (12 m2) really had everything. But
there was a small problem: WC, shower cabin were located in the kitchen. Just
imagine how convenient it is: there is a cooker in front of you, a toilet on
your left and a shower cabin on your right…
Announcement #3
The announcement seems to be fine,
let’s visit apartment.
let’s visit apartment.
Disappointment #3
I wasn’t mistaken. The apartment was good and
that meant that there are a lot of candidates hunting for this apartment. As I
have said earlier, I didn’t have any French garant and I didn’t work. Nobody cares here how much money
you and your parents have on your foreign bank accounts. Good news! You can
make a caution bancaire, so called
bank guarantee, and to freeze several thousands of euro for one year. If you
are rich enough to pay for the rent aside, why not. To do that you have to have
your French bank account open. Bad news! You can’t open your bank account
without proving your address of residence in Paris. Virtual circle…
that meant that there are a lot of candidates hunting for this apartment. As I
have said earlier, I didn’t have any French garant and I didn’t work. Nobody cares here how much money
you and your parents have on your foreign bank accounts. Good news! You can
make a caution bancaire, so called
bank guarantee, and to freeze several thousands of euro for one year. If you
are rich enough to pay for the rent aside, why not. To do that you have to have
your French bank account open. Bad news! You can’t open your bank account
without proving your address of residence in Paris. Virtual circle…
Announcements #x, y, z = Disappointments #x, y, z
After a month of disappointments, I managed to
sign a contract through a real estate agency. Terms: 17 m2, 800 € per
month and payment in advance for the whole year… C’est la vie…
sign a contract through a real estate agency. Terms: 17 m2, 800 € per
month and payment in advance for the whole year… C’est la vie…
My advice if you are currently looking for a
flat in Paris
flat in Paris
1.
Define what your top priorities
are: location, surface, price. For me it was location and price (at first).
There is no point in running around Paris visiting every single flat.
Define what your top priorities
are: location, surface, price. For me it was location and price (at first).
There is no point in running around Paris visiting every single flat.
2.
Be ready to compromise. In a
certain moment, you will be obliged to do that. I had to give up the idea of
having a washing machine in my flat and the rent was higher than I planned.
Be ready to compromise. In a
certain moment, you will be obliged to do that. I had to give up the idea of
having a washing machine in my flat and the rent was higher than I planned.
3.
Don’t give up! Keep calm if you
have already visited more than 20 apartments. It is fine, continue!
Don’t give up! Keep calm if you
have already visited more than 20 apartments. It is fine, continue!
4.
As for the documents you need
for your portfolio, the more you have, the better, especially concerning your
financial situation. Then, all you have to do is to hope and keep on searching.
As for the documents you need
for your portfolio, the more you have, the better, especially concerning your
financial situation. Then, all you have to do is to hope and keep on searching.
5.
During the visit, try to show
that you are a serious person and that the landlord doesn’t have to worry about
the flat.
During the visit, try to show
that you are a serious person and that the landlord doesn’t have to worry about
the flat.
6.
You can try to find apartments
without agency via web sites like www.pap.fr or www.leboncoin.fr. But note, it’s quite difficult to
sign the contract. Otherwise, contact agencies (I found my flat via www.seloger.fr)
but be ready to pay les honnoraires.
You can try to find apartments
without agency via web sites like www.pap.fr or www.leboncoin.fr. But note, it’s quite difficult to
sign the contract. Otherwise, contact agencies (I found my flat via www.seloger.fr)
but be ready to pay les honnoraires.
Good luck!
Cordialement,
NN
PS
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
