When relocating to France, finding the right accommodation can be a hard step. Here are your different options:
Look for an accommodation on your own
In this case, we recommend that you first book a temporary accommodation in France (Airbnb for example) or stay with a relative/friend and then look for accommodations once you are in France.
Here are the websites commonly used in France to find an accommodation:
PAP.com (rentals between individuals)
Leboncoin.fr (rentals between individuals)
Seloger.com (real estate agents)
Logic-immo.com (real estate agents)
When looking for an accommodation on these websites, you should be careful of housing scams (especially if the price is unusually low or the apartment/house is to good to be real). To avoid identity theft, you should also protect your documents before sending them to the landlords (for example by adding a watermark on all PDF documents).
Go to a real estate agency
You can go to a real estate agency in the area where you are looking for an accommodation. You can usually find them easily in the street, do not hesitate to enter and talk with a professional!
In this case you will need to pay additional fees.
Apartment/house hunters
Apartment/house hunters are professionals who will search for your apartment or house on your behalf.
Our housing partner can look for your accommodation. If you are interested, you can contact your Case Manager for more information about this.
Which documents can be asked by the landlords?
Identity: passport/visa/residence permit copy
Proof of address: for example last 3 rent receipts (document that certifies that you have paid your rent and utilities in full)
Professional situation: work contract or internship contract, student card or school certificate for the current year
Proof of income: last 3 pay slips or internship allowances, proof of of indemnities, pensions, social and family benefits and allowances received during the last 3 months or proof of entitlement issued by the paying organization (pension fund, Caf: Caisse d'allocations familiales...), last or penultimate tax notice or notice of non-taxation.
(when all or part of the income received has not been taxed in France, you must provide the last or second last equivalent document issued by the tax authorities of the State or territory concerned.)
Landlords are not allowed to ask you for a criminal record or your last bank statements. They cannot ask a copy of your health insurance card, a certificate of absence of credit or bank of France file, medical information, marriage or divorce certificate, etc.
Never send your bank information (RIB) before signing the contract.