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Apartment (and surrounding area) input request for Paris

Apartment (and surrounding area) input request for Paris

Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:16 AM
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Apartment (and surrounding area) input request for Paris

We're considering an apartment for 8 people next May in Paris. This was found on HomeAway and fortunately has plenty of positive reviews.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p376821vb

I'd love to get some input on the location. It seems that being right next to Jardin des Plantes would be nice...the kids would love spending some down time there.
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:21 AM
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I just checked VRBO and there are 27 positive reviews so I feel better on that end. http://www.vrbo.com/376821
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:22 AM
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Never mind that last post...they're basically the same site...same reviews.
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:24 AM
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You'll soon find out (see below) that I'm wary of appartments especially in Paris.
This being said, the location is just GREAT. I've spent weeks of my youth in the same area (I had an aunt who was the cashier of one of the entries of 'le jardin des plantes' - yes, I know important people...) and we loved it there as kids.

Now on appts :
I never booked an appartment via these kind of sites and am very cautious of frauds - so at minimum ask the owner/homeaway if the appartment complies with the new laws (called ALUR laws) and what he would do if suddenly the appartment 'disappears' from the listing for 'sudden renovations' or whatever, and limit downpayments (using this ALUR law as argument).
And I'd ask for an invoice to see how they react. If they don't want to, they are frauding the fiscus, and suspicion is higher that they don't comply to the law - my way of seeing things, but some will come and tell you everything is ok.
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:32 AM
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Pariswat - thanks for the reply.

I have heard there were issues related to renting apartments as of late...most likely due to ALUR. Is that just something in France/Paris? This is the only apartment we'd be renting in France.

I am also wary of renting in general. On our last trip we rented in Paris and Rome and LOVED the results. But I'm wary of giving people money up front and then meeting them in person with the second wad of cash at night (when we usually arrive). That's why I'm trying to research this further.
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:33 AM
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sure, the location is fine. You won't have that many choices, I'm sure, with your requirements. It's a little hilly around there, depending which direction you go, but not a big problem. Just saying going up to Monge market is somewhat uphill. It's near a metro stop, so that's important, and some buses run along rue Cuvier going towards Luxembourg gardens, as I recall (along Lacepede). it's bus 89
http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orie...loc=bus_paris/

I don't consider Jardin des Plantes as nice as some other gardens/parks in Paris, but there is a kids' area.
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:36 AM
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Laws like that would be local, not across countries. ALUR is a French law, the word is an acronym for L'access au logement and something (urbanisme renove maybe).

I"ve only heard about it being a big issue in Paris, though, but I thought the law was national, not sure. But for you, that doesn't matter.
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 12:41 PM
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I thought the law was national,

ALUR (l´Accès au Logement et un Urbanisme Rénové) is indeed a national law applying to any city with more than 200,000 inhabitants. It effectively bans any short term (defined as less than 12 months) rental unless the apartment meets very stringent requirements and is approved by the Marie in which the apartment is located. Up to now, very few such apartments have been approved. Also completely legal are primary residents who sublet their apartments for a annual period not to exceed four months.

Fines can be very heavy for owners who violate the laws. There are no fines for agencies who list illegal apartments and there are no fines for renters of these apartments. The risk is that the illegal apartments may be withdrawn from the market at any time leaving a potential renter with nowhere to stay. No one has yet been evicted from an occupied apartment.

Nothing indicates that this particular rental has been approved by the marie and, in my estimation, it is not someone´s primary residence. I would be cautions about such a rental and fully understand the risks before sending money.
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 10:08 PM
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I was wondering why the manager kept talking about the two other properties on Ile St Louis. The language is not very good and this always makes me suspicious. If he manages this apt for his "Nanny" friend - whatever that means - does she live there? Sure doesn't look like an apartment that is lived in by the owner and her family 8 months per year, which would make it a legal rental.
If something goes wrong, you would be hard pressed to find a place for this many people at the last minute. I would look for other options in case you need a Plan B. I'd be worried that this manager would try to shift you to his places on Ile St Louis.
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Old Oct 4th, 2015, 12:54 PM
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What manouche says. You have to be really careful these days, not that you'd be fined or anything, but the number of apartment owners who are suddenly and inexplicably (or with false reasons) taking their properties off the market is growing daily. Do you really want to get all stoked about having a beautiful apartment in Paris and then find out a few days before you fly that it's "under construction" or "needs renovation in the bathroom," or whatever other excuses people feel they need to make because they've been found out to be illegal?

Yes, ARUL is a national law. But the same thing is happening in New York, San Francisco, and elsewhere. Renting an apartment as an alternative to a hotel has gone viral in the past years, with some dire consequences for people who live in the neighborhoods this is happening, and I for one sympathize with them. Would you want to buy an expensive condo in NYC and have new foreign neighbors every week who didnt understand what the rules were?
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Old Oct 5th, 2015, 12:11 AM
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When you pay in cash on arrival this is almost certainly a sign that the apartment revenue is not being reported and is almost certainly illegal. How do you explain to your kids that breaking the law is OK just because you found a cute place to stay that meets your budget?

You don't have to stay right near Jardin des Plantes or any other place you think the kids will like because they might get bored anywhere you stay. You can get anywhere in Paris within minutes. You should book a legal apart'hotel where you won't have to worry about anything and then go explore the city.
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Old Oct 5th, 2015, 01:00 PM
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Wekiva - you're getting lots of input on the apartment rental situation in Paris.

Re: that apartment. I cannot imagine 8 ppl and only 1 1/2 bathrooms. That probably means 2 toilets (which is good) but only 1 shower / tub.

In any case, I'd be worried about renting an apartment.
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Old Oct 5th, 2015, 01:11 PM
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Do you know about apart'hotels? These are legal hotels that rent out apartment-sized (and furnished) suites. Citidines is perhaps the best known, but there are others. If it was me - and it isn't - I'd opt for a rental I knew was legal so there wouldn't be any unwelcome surprises. As others have said, especially with that many people, I'd want to know I had my lodging arranged.
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