This information is for orientation only. Rights depend on lease type, zone, and encadrement des loyers. For disputes: local ADIL or a tenants’ association.

Housing roadmap

Before arrival (temporary) → Viewing → Bail + état des lieux → Assurance habitation → CAF → Utilities

Student checklist — housing

  • 6–8 weeks ahead: CROUS + Leboncoin/Studapart; budget for caution + first loyer.
  • First week: CROUS residence, foyer, short Airbnb — do not pay full months without a signed bail.
  • Before signing: real viewing, verify landlord, cap on dépôt, notice period clauses.
  • After signing: photographed état des lieux, assurance within 1 month, CAF application.
  • Flatshare: written agreement on charges, guests, duration.

Student residence vs private market

OptionProsCons
Logement CROUSLow price, near campusLimited places, DSE score
Résidence privée étudianteServices, flexibilityMore expensive than CROUS
Chambre en colocationAffordable, socialGuarantor, flatmates
Private studioPrivacyGarant, high rent in Paris
  • CROUS — Public university housing.
  • Leboncoin — Most-used listings.
  • SeLoger, Bien’ici, PAP — Agencies and private landlords.
  • Studapart, Lokaviz, Adele — Student portals.
  • Facebook / WhatsApp groups — Only after identity checks.

Indicative rents by city (2026)

Monthly rent for a chambre en colocation (HC, charges excluded unless CC). Indicative figures.

CityRoomStudioNote
Paris (intramuros)€700–1,100€1,000–1,600Encadrement loyers; strong dossier
Paris suburbs / IDF€500–800€750–1,200RER/metro; check neighbourhood safety
Lyon / Lille / Bordeaux€400–650€600–950Good value for money
Toulouse / Montpellier / Nantes€350–550€550–850Large student communities
Strasbourg / Grenoble€350–500€500–750Frequent Erasmus
Small provincial town€250–400€400–600Less tense market

Lease and rights

  • Bail non meublé: minimum 3 years (private individual landlord); dépôt max 2 months’ rent.
  • Bail meublé: minimum 1 year; dépôt max 1 month’s rent; mandatory furniture inventory.
  • Bail mobilité / bail étudiant: more flexible for short stays — check maximum duration.
  • Loyer charges comprises (CC) vs hors charges (HC) — clarify charges locatives.
  • Encadrement des loyers: in Paris and other zones — check loyer de référence.

Guarantees (caution locative)

TypeWhoNote
Visale< 30 years, first bail in FranceFree — visale.fr
Garant (caution solidaire)Parent / relativeIncome in France often required
Garantme / SmartGarantIf no garantAnnual fee
Caution bancaireBlocked fundsRare, costly

Documents to rent

  • Dossier locataire: ID, school certificate, guarantors, recent statements/scholarships.
  • Justificatif de domicile — For bank/CAF after moving in.
  • Attestation d’hébergement — If staying with a third party (with host documents).

Utilities and assurance

  1. Électricité / gaz: EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies — compare offers (often open market).
  2. Eau: Often included in charges.
  3. Internet: Free, Orange, SFR, Bouygues — fibre where available.
  4. Assurance habitation — Mandatory for tenants; covers fire, RC, water damage.
  5. Prélèvement — Direct debit on RIB; check first months.

CAF (APL)

  • APL / ALS — Rent subsidy after NIR, contract, and domicile in France.
  • Online application on caf.fr with FranceConnect.
  • Timing: first payment may arrive after weeks — keep a buffer.

Flatmates

  • Written agreement: charges, cleaning, guests, duration, deposit.
  • One name on the bail: others have no full tenant rights — consider colocation with all signatories.
  • Photo état des lieux on move-in.
Faux annonces

Propriétaire all'étranger + virement urgent = classical arnaque.

Quick reference

Paris: historic housing crisis. Cheap CROUS but long lists. Private: incomplete dossier = zero responses. Visale replaces Garant in many cases.

  • Depot max 1 month (law) + état des lieux
  • CROUS: DSE application
  • SeLoger, Leboncoin, Studapart
  • Charges often separated from the loyer

Student housing

CROUS

Good for students

Rooms €150–400 depending on city. Priority for fellows. Annual renewal.

Private market

Standard colocation. Garant me France / Visale for students without FR income.

  • Visale
  • CROUS
  • Studapart

Lease and rent

Contract

National rule
  • Bail meublé or vide — you understand notice
  • Compulsory habitation insurance
  • État des lieux photographed

Areas and neighborhoods

Hazardous

Varies by city or federal state
  • Paris: RER B/C towards campus, only avoid Marais if on budget
  • Lille, Lyon, Toulouse: well-connected suburban campus
  • Strasbourg: Neudorf, Esplanade

Utilities and what rent includes

Charges

Electricity often EDF; separate internet. Taxe habitation often not for primary students.

  • Rental deposit on seizure account
Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.

Lease types (summary)

TypeNote
Unfurnished / furnishedDifferent statutory durations and deposit rules—check current law
Service chargesOnly recoverable charges can be billed—verify the annex
GuaranteesState-backed Visale for many students; paid guarantor services exist

Tenant information

ADIL / housing info

Free advice on rent increases, defects, and disputes.

Housing benefit simulation

Run a CAF simulation before you sign.

Energy

Retail market

Compare offers via official comparison tools; watch renewal clauses.

Disputes

Energy regulator (CRE) and the energy ombudsman handle many supplier complaints.

End of tenancy

Notice periods (préavis), check-in/out inventories, and deposit returns—keep dated evidence.

Note

This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.

Sources · Last verified: 2026-05

  • service-public.fr login (official link being updated)
Trusted sources we used for this content

Official French and EU portals: Eurostat, service-public.fr, impots.gouv.fr, Ameli, OFII, Urssaf, and the Foreign Ministry. Always confirm amounts on the competent site.