HOUSING

If you plan to independently find your own housing, please see the information and links below to help guide you in your search. Know that some of these sites are only available in French. Sometimes, even though the site is available in English, you may need to correspond in French when speaking with potential agency agents, landlords and/or roommates.

Please note that these resources are not officially endorsed by API nor Parsons Paris, but we hope they are helpful in your apartment search. 

GUARANTOR FOR HOUSING IN FRANCE

You will need to provide a financial guarantor to rent an apartment in Paris. Depending on the company, they may allow your parents to prove they have sufficient finances to serve as your guarantor.

However, some companies may require that your financial guarantor be located and have income sourced from within France — which is likely not possible for most students. So, If you find an apartment that requires a French garant, the services below can serve as a financial guarantor and normally fulfill this need.

• Garant Me

• Visale -- you can find more information about Visale here and here

HOME INSURANCE, REQUIRED FOR RENTING, IN FRANCE

In France, if you are a tenant in a rented space with a residential lease, you are obliged to take out a home insurance policy with minimum coverage.

You must respect this obligation regardless of your nationality and regardless of the length of your stay in France.

To find a home insurance quote: 

• French Bank: home insurance can be included in the package when you open a French bank account, just ask. 

• Insurance company with an English website : Heyme (Home insurance plan includes civil liability insurance)

Before signing the home insurance contract, the insurer must give you an insurance application that explains the conditions under which you are insured. Make sure to understand those conditions and don't hesitate to inquire about the costs for other types of conditions if you feel you need different coverage.

SITES TO LOOK FOR HOUSING IN FRANCE

• http://www.parisattitude.com

• https://www.lodgis.com/en/ 

• https://www.parisianhome.com 

• https://vingtparis.com/search-our-properties/to-rent/ 

• https://www.morningcroissant.com/

• https://www.livecolonies.com/coliving/paris

• https://www.paris-housing.com/rent

• https://www.residences-immobilier.com/en/ 

• https://www.immojeune.com/en/

• https://www.adele.org/ 

• https://eiffel-housing.com/en/ 

• https://www.sabbaticalhomes.com

• http://rentyourparis.com/en/ (in many languages)

• https://www.spotahome.com/paris

• https://www.studapart.com/en/student-accommodation-paris

• https://www.parisfurnishedapartments.com/

• https://www.pap.fr/

• https://www.leboncoin.fr/

• https://www.seloger.com/

 ROMAINVILLE HOUSING

Parsons Paris students may choose to rent single or shared furnished in a residence hall 5 minutes away from campus. The Fast residence is occupied by Parsons Paris students as well as other students and artists. 

Note: The students based in the Romainville campus are BFA Fashion Design students in their second year or above and all students in the MFA Fashion Design and the Arts program. All first-year undergraduate students and students in other programs may prefer API housing options, which are closer to the Saint-Roch campus. 

If interested, you may send an email to fast@valority.com or jtoto@lesbellesannees.com

Note that availability is limited. 

All studios are equipped with:

• Single bed (two single beds if a double studio)

• Office desk with chair

• Storage space

• Bathroom with shower and WC

• Kitchenette

Additional services and facilities include:

• Unlimited broadband Internet

• Reception service

• Lounge area

• Cafeteria

• Laundry*

• 24-hour video surveillance

• Magnetic card smartphone access

• Cleaning service*

• Laundry service*

• Locked bike room

• Nearby car parking

• Access and toilets maintained to PRM standards

*At an additional cost.

Please note that Parsons Paris takes no responsibility for housing agreements between students and API or the Romainville property management company and that all communication and inquiries must take place directly between students and the housing providers. 

API HOUSING

Parsons Paris has collaborated with Academic Programs International (API), a preferred housing provider, to provide students in Paris with housing options such as shared flats or individual studios in residence halls. Prices vary based on the housing preferences and length of stay. 

For more information and the application (deadline June 1st) click here.

HOW TO AVOID AN APARTMENT SCAM

• Never rent without visiting the actual location and meeting with the landlord or the agency representative.

• Never share all of your personal documents online before visiting the apartment if working directly with a landlord or potential roommate. If you are working with an agency review review the FAQ section of a rental agency's website to see what documents will be requested for your application before you can visit the apartment.

• Never pay upfront any agency fees or any rental fees before signing a lease.

• Always sign a written lease, with the landlord's details clearly stated (full name, address, telephone number...)

• If it's too good to be true, it's probably not true. If you see an apartment that looks nice and is listed at an appealing price, doublecheck that similar sized apartments in that neighborhood are renting at a similar price. If you see the average cost is higher and the person you communicate with begins to ask for all your personal documents or collecting money before visiting the apartment, it's most likely a scam.

  • • Middleman Scam - you find an amazing place, and the price looks very reasonable. You call and someone tells you that they manage this property for the owners. Usually, the apartment is real but the middleman you are speaking with doesn’t actually have access to it. Scammers find this place on some other real estate platform, they steal the pictures and description, and use this information on another platform (for instance Le Bon Coin or Craigslist). They insist on collecting upfront the first month’s rent, security deposit, and any other payments that might seem reasonable. Then they simply disappear with your money.

Whether you're heading home for the holidays or moving between apartments, these storage services in Paris can help you keep your belongings safe: 

StoragePAL offers 15% off for Parsons Paris community with the code : PAR15

YouStock offers flexible storage with home pickup and delivery, making it ideal for students who want hands-free storage during breaks. 

Shugard is a widely available self-storage option with flexible monthly rentals and secure facilities across the Île-de-France region. 

Une Piece En Plus provides secure, 24/7-accessible storage units across Paris, perfect for students and residents needing easy access to their belongings. 

While Parsons Paris is unable to advise individually on CAF processes, please find below information that can be helpful during your application process.

WHAT IS THE CAF?

The CAF is a French governmental subsidy that offers housing benefits also referred to as the ‘Aide Personnalisée au Logement’ (APL). Full-time students with no income can generally receive 200€-300€ of subsidies per month. As the application process can take months, it is important not to count on the CAF to cover your rental payments.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

You can apply for the CAF both as a French and EU citizen as well as if you are of a different nationality but hold a valid residence permit. The apartment you apply for needs to be your main residence (where you live at least 8 months / year). You are not eligible for the CAF if you are related to your landlord and / or if you don’t pay rent.

You will also need your landlord’s explicit permission to apply for the CAF as at the end of your application the CAF might request a proof of residence form signed by your landlord.

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED TO APPLY?

Before applying, you will need to make sure that you have the following documents ready and available in digital copy as the application now takes place online.

-   Proof of identity

-   Proof of valid French residence permit (if applicable)

  -   Birth certificate with official French translation

-   Proof of enrollment

-   Proof of rental contract (proof of rental payment sometimes requested)

-   French bank account details (RIB)

HOW LONG DOES THE APPLICATION TAKE?

The application can take months to go through (2-4 months can be expected) so if you are eligible, it is important to apply once you receive your keys in order to benefit from the CAF as soon as possible.

CAN THE CAF BE APPLIED RETROACTIVELY?

Although the CAF can be applied retroactively from the date you submitted your application, this sometimes varies and is not guaranteed.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Please find a step-by-step guide in English, provided by the CAF on the following link:

https://www.caf.fr/sites/default/files/medias/cnaf/Nous_connaitre/International/FrancaisEtranger/AllocationLogement/2024/EN_TutoALE_SecteurLocatifPrive_2024.pdf

If you are applying for the CAF for the first time and don’t yet have a French social security number when creating an account, you will receive a temporary ID number. You can use this to log into your portal until you receive a social security number. Make sure to remember this number as you will need it to log into your account but also for any future correspondence with the CAF office.

I APPLIED - NOW WHAT?

Within a few weeks, you should receive a letter to your mailbox from the CAF confirming reception of your application. They will also communicate any missing documents you might need to add to your application. Save all correspondence from the CAF office in a separate folder as you may need it for future communication.

Until you start receiving the subsidy (remember – this takes time) your online portal will look quite empty. This is normal; once you start receiving payment, the platform should change and should reflect the amounts you receive.

MOVING APARTMENTS / COUNTRIES

If you move from your current apartment, you need to update the information on your personal CAF account - you can do this through your portal once logged in.

If you are leaving France, you can update this information on your portal as well in order to stop receiving the subsidy. Please keep in mind that if you forget to stop the CAF and you continue to receive payments, they will ask you to reimburse any amount paid following your departure.

HOW TO CONTACT THE CAF?

If you are experiencing any difficulties with the CAF you can contact them on their general customer service number: 3230 Monday-Friday from 9AM to 4:30PM. The waiting times tend to be shorter, however, on the phone line dedicated for students: +33 (0) 9 69 32 52 52 also available Monday-Friday from 9AM to 4:30PM. You can also contact them via email through the website, but please keep in mind that it might take some time for the CAF to respond.

You can also schedule an appointment or go to one of the CAF offices in person during walk-in hours. For more information on this, you can consult the following website: https://wwwd.caf.fr/wps/portal/caffr/macaf/contactermacaf#/contactcaf under ‘Prendre rendez-vous’ and ‘Trouver un point d’accueil’.