So you’re relocating to Paris, France, for one or an other reason and need a flat to rent. Welcome, your not alone, I’m going through the process of finding a flat as of writing this. The past week I’ve gained some really helpful tips I would like to share. First, mind that English is not commonly spoken amongst the real estate agents which obviously makes the whole task slightly more difficult if you don’t know the language. You just have to get by using Google translate and kind friends.
Some tips:
- Get a French sim-card to your mobile. You need to make many phone calls.
- Buy the PAP magazine on Thursday’s and be quick on the phone
- Register on Seloger.com and pay the €9 extra that allows you early access to new released flats, that’s a must. Get on the phone and call to setup a meeting. don’t bother sending them e-mails, they won’r reply.
- Depending on your budget, have a look at http://www.book-a-flat.com/ – Prices start at €1,200 but the flats are furnished and very nice.
- http://www.parisattitude.com seems to have very modern flats as well
- Real estate agents seem only to work within the sector. As a newbie in Paris it’s hard to have an understanding of where you want to stay. My plan is to get out of the busy city center so I’ve been travelling to Issy-les-Moulineaux, Levallois-Perret and Maison Lafitte. Unfortunately I’ve been unlucky finding a furnished studio available at any of these places.
- When on the road use your phone’s GPS and search for “Immobiliere Consultants, Paris, France”
List of things you need to prepare:
- You need a French bank account. Making a payment of your rent from an account abroad is not accepted. Don’t ask why.
- You need to show proof that you have worked and paid tax 3 months in France before you can rent. The obvious question is then, where do you live the first 3 months in Paris? Try with tax documents from your home country, earlier pay slips might do?
- You need to show proof of 3 pay slips from France. How do you do this? See above. Try with payslips from your home country.
- Other easier documents to arrange with includes; copy of your passport, work contract.
- It’s normal to pay 1 month worth of rent in agency fee and the same in a deposit.
- You must give 3 months notice prior to leaving your flat
- You must have arrange with a comprehensive insurance for the flat. apperently it’s only around €150/year.
Prepare as much as you can in advance, if you can setup meetings with real estate agents to view flats in fore hand do so. Because when you find something you like, you’ve to act fast.
This is what you can expect to get for around €1,000/month, small studio I visited yesterday in the 7th district. 22sqm studio with bed sofa and a small cooker.
