How to find accommodation in France for international student
August 21, 2017
The
struggle is real!!! You are a student that is accepted to the French
university. You have your acceptance letter but it is already too late for you
to apply for the student residence or you want to mingle with the French people
and start colocation. Maybe you are more independent and you want to rent a
flat. You don't have a garant, you don't have a French account, you are not in
France at the moment... What to do???
Here are my tips how to get the
accommodation in France when you are international student in France
Search for Erasmus *your city* Student Groups, Location apartment *your
city*, or ask your compatriots who live in the city, in my case Polacy w *your
city*
The
christian accomodation. The price is good, the localization is
good, and sometimes they offer meals! You have to write a motivation letter
that you want to connect developing faith and studies. Make sure that you read
the rules before signing contract. Sometimes they forbid the entrance of your
friends, or they have to pay for staying overnight.
On the website you can find people that are looking for a roommate or
want to rent their own apartment without agency. When you find a room that you
like, you call the person. You can ask your questions, take a meeting to see
the apartment... Here is the trick... You send e-mails but without response
(Often the landlord will never receive your message because of the le bon coin's
server). You try to call... You have a foreign phone number. It is very
possible that the French person will not pick up the phone. You have to be
lucky and patient.
I logged in, I was ready to start my hunt. It turned out that I have to
pay for verification. Sorry I'm not paying any Euros, the website is not for
me!
La carte de colocs is a very good tool to find a colocation. You have a
map, you can see straight away the localization. When you click on the apartment
you like, you can see price and a picture of the owner. You can contact via
e-mail, talk a little and then have a meeting on Skype.
In my case, I was sending e-mails, every time in French. I rarely got a
response. I'm going to a small city so there is not so many offers. I only got
the answer when I didn't write in my message that I come from Poland. Later
when I mentioned it, I got the answer that the apartment is already
taken...
After many phone calls, sent e-mails, weeks of trying my friend advised me to try airbnb.com. I've already used it for
a short time stays. I didn't think about it to look for a flat for all
semester. But I was already desperate and I gave it a go. I've sent messages to
owners that I'm interested. And finally I started getting responses!! That is
how I found my accommodation!
Finding apartment in France can be cdifficult. It will definitely take
you some time. Especially when you are a student and you budget is tight.
Landlords prefer to meet you in person before signing a contract. Try all available
options and don't give up!
Do you find it helpful? Let me know how did you find your accommodation
Bonne chance!
*
1 comments
Thanks for sharing this I would love to visit one day
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