Applying for social and affordable housing in France
If you have limited financial resources, you can apply to rent a home known as a social housing or “…
In France, renting private housing can be a relatively quick way to find accommodation. The conditions are set by the person who owns the property, with whom you must sign a rental agreement before moving in. Depending on the town or city you live in, it can take a little longer to find a home.
Verified by Ouarda Varda Sadoudi on 29/09/2023
You can rent accommodation in France, regardless of your situation, even without residency rights.
However, each landlord can set their own conditions, in compliance with the rules imposed by law.
In areas with very high housing demand, conditions are generally more stringent. For example:
However, many landlords choose not to impose these conditions if they believe someone has sufficient resources to pay the rent.
When you make an appointment for a visit, ask the landlord or estate agent what conditions need to be met and which documents need to be included in your application.
Each month, you will have a sum of money to pay, the amount of which is set from the outset and includes:
When you sign the lease or “bail”, you will have to pay:
A guarantor or “garant” is someone who agrees to pay your rent in the event that you can no longer pay it.
This is often a condition requested by landlords, especially if the landlord does not have insurance for unpaid rent.
However, this is not required by all landlords, and it is also possible to find an apartment without a “garant”.
You can ask someone close to you to be your “garant”.
This person must:
You can ask a public organisation known as “Action Logement” to be guarantor or “garant”, free of charge, by applying for a “garantie Visale”.
To benefit from this, you must:
The application is made online on this website.
You will first need to verify your eligibility and then create an account to submit the application with the requested documents.
A rental application should generally include the following documents:
You may also be asked to include documents relating to your last home:
If your documents are not in French, you may be asked for a translation.
A home can be rented directly from the landlord.
In general, this may mean they will have more flexible and less stringent conditions. You can negotiate directly with the landlord if you do not fully meet the conditions.
Many sites and applications list available vacancies by location, such as:
It is also possible to go through an estate agent, either by applying for online ads or by visiting an agency near you.
You will have to pay fees for this service.
To search for agency ads online, you can use services such as:
It is recommended that you prepare your application in advance with copies of the various documents requested, and bring it with you during your viewings so that you can submit it immediately, particularly in the most in-demand areas.
When you have found a home that suits you, submit your application with copies of the documents requested.
If your application is accepted, you will then have to sign the lease called the “bail”.
You will make the first payments at the time of signing.
As a tenant, you are required by French law to take out insurance for your home, known as “assurance habitation”, before moving in.
You can request quotes from multiple insurance companies before choosing the right one for you.
You will have to provide the document supplied by your insurance company, called an “attestation”, to your landlord or estate agency before you collect the keys to the property.
When you are given the keys to the home, you will make a visit to complete an entry condition report or “état des lieux” which will allow you to describe in detail the condition and state of the property in a document.
This document is very important: you will need it when you leave the property to recover the sum you paid on arrival, known as the “dépôt de garantie”, or deposit.
Before moving in, remember to start contracts with service providers so you have access to the following services as soon as you move in:
Estate agents and private landlords not have the right to refuse an application on the basis of certain discriminatory criteria, such as your origin, health, sexual orientation or religion.
If you think that you have received less favourable treatment in your search for accommodation due to an aspect of discrimination, there are solutions to assert your rights.
In France, there are many services that can support you, give you advice, and assist you with procedures and paperwork. Most of them are free of charge.
“ADIL” services are local agencies that inform people about their right to housing and the solutions that exist for them.
Social workers or “travailleurs sociaux” and “assistants sociaux” are professionals who support people in their administrative procedures and help them find solutions according to the difficulties they are faced with.
The "PIMMS Médiation" are organisations that inform, guide or support in administrative procedures in many areas: access to public services, access to health care, applications for state financial assistance, tax declarations, declarations to “Pôle Emploi”, etc.
While the utmost care has gone into providing you with the most accurate and up to date information, this page is not intended to replace legal or professional advice. Laws and procedures change regularly so it is important to consult qualified professionals.
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