FRANCE | Accommodation | Cultural information

Rental contract

You have to read the agreement carefully before signing it and pay special attention to what we say in English "the small print". It is also important to get your security deposit back (often equivalent to one month's rental) at the end of your stay. In several cases, the owner requires payment of a rental guarantee (1 to 3 months of rent). The termination of a lease agreement must be given in writing and you have to comply with the notice period and the agreed duration (at least 3 months in advance). It is possible to terminate the lease at any time by offering an agreeable replacement candidate who will rent under the same conditions.

In order to sign a French lease agreement, it is usually necessary to provide several documents required by the owner as proof of income: attestation by a guarantor, guarantor's pay slip copies of the last three months, copy of the guarantor's income tax card and sometimes also the bank account details (RIB). If you live in a family, you need fewer documents as the accommodation agreement is much simpler.

Rental conditions

In France, the rent is always indicated without the associated charges such as water, gas and electricity. Also, a householder comprehensive insurance is mandatory in France. In addition, a householder tax is to be paid each year to the municipality which is approximately equivalent to one month's rent. Radio and television fees are not included in the charges either. You have to contact the phone and internet providers to subscribe to these facilities. In any case, ask the owner of the premises about any additional charges!  

Social aid for housing (CAF)

If you rent an accommodation and the lease is in your name you should ask for Personalised Housing Aid (Aide Personnalisée au Logement (APL)) from the French government. Each student and each foreigner can obtain this support! You can get information from the CAF (Caisse d’Allocation familiale = ) on www.caf.fr under the heading "students". Here, you can also send a request on-line outlining your professional and family conditions and your annual monetary resources. The amount is calculated by the CAF and paid into a French account. This aid amounts to approximately one-third of the rent and also enables foreign students to get financial support during their stay.

Waste management

France has a well developed network of waste elimination facilities managed by the municipalities. Thus, most of the households and buildings have several waste bins placed in the basements, which enables them to sort the waste themselves. Waste is collected regularly and you have to ask the owner about the tenant's responsibilities – for example whether the tenant has to put the containers out or if this is the task of the caretaker or the concierge.

Last Modification: 30.07.2024 - Contact Person: Webmaster