Finding housing
Main platforms:
- Leboncoin: most popular nationwide
- Seloger, Bien’ici: agency-heavy listings
- PAP (Particulier à Particulier): landlord-direct
- Facebook groups: local communities
Lease types
- Bail non meublé: unfurnished, minimum three years
- Bail meublé: furnished, minimum one year
- Bail étudiant: student-friendly terms
- Colocation: shared flat
Watch out
Deposits (dépôt de garantie) are capped: one month’s rent for furnished homes, two months for unfurnished.
Guarantees landlords expect
- Individual guarantor: parent or relative with stable French income
- Visale: free public guarantee for under-30s and precarious workers
- Bank guarantee: rare and expensive
Rent formulas
- Charges comprises (CC): service charges included
- Hors charges (HC): net rent plus separate bills
- Charges: water, heating, common areas
Utilities to set up
- Electricity: EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies—compare offers
- Gas: often bundled with electricity
- Internet: Orange, SFR, Free, Bouygues
- Insurance: Assurance habitation is mandatory
Go deeper
Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.
Lease types (summary)
| Type | Note |
|---|---|
| Unfurnished / furnished | Different statutory durations and deposit rules—check current law |
| Service charges | Only recoverable charges can be billed—verify the annex |
| Guarantees | State-backed Visale for many students; paid guarantor services exist |
Tenant information
Energy
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.