Paris apt. recommendations - St. Germaine
Jan 19th, 2014, 08:58 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paris apt. recommendations - St. Germaine
Hi all. I am looking for a studio or one bedroom apt. in the St. Germaine area for a trip in late June. We're not picky that it has to be fabulous, but we would like it clean, quiet and to have air conditioning.
Any suggestions? I have contacted Paris Vacation Apartments, and they have no availability - we want to stay for 4 nights.
Any suggestions? I have contacted Paris Vacation Apartments, and they have no availability - we want to stay for 4 nights.
Jan 19th, 2014, 09:38 AM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Be sure whatever you rent is a LEGAL rental.
https://www.google.ca/#q=illegal+par...rtment+rentals
Also be aware that IF you are doing something illegal, your travel insurance will NOT cover you at all. All insurance policies have a clause saying doing something illegal voids the policy.
Illegal rentals are receiving more and more attention everywhere including Paris.
https://www.google.ca/#q=illegal+par...rtment+rentals
Also be aware that IF you are doing something illegal, your travel insurance will NOT cover you at all. All insurance policies have a clause saying doing something illegal voids the policy.
Illegal rentals are receiving more and more attention everywhere including Paris.
Jan 20th, 2014, 02:59 AM
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would want a high floor and a strong fan before I would take a place without air conditioning, particularly if you are not used to street noise. -- scooters, beeping, buses and trucks, garbage pickup, or, worst of all, a high school.
Of course, a high floor means an elevator, so choices lead to choices.
Of course, a high floor means an elevator, so choices lead to choices.
Jan 20th, 2014, 06:09 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No PhillyFan, one cannot assume anything. VRBO, Airbnb, Homeaway, et al, are third party listing sites who make their money from their listings.
NONE of them screen their customers to make sure they are renting legally. ALL of them simply state that they expect both the owner and the renter to obey the law. THEIR butt is covered, your butt is your problem.
Renting is no different than buying any other product. Caveat Emptor always applies.
People say to read reviews but reviews will not tell you if a property is being rented legally. 'It was nice, we liked it, we had no problems, everything was as advertised' doesn't tell you if it was legal.
Finding out if it is legal is not easy. You could check with the town hall to see if it is registered, you could ask the owner to show you (e-mail) a copy of the registration as a short term rental. You could ask for proof that hotel taxes are being paid or that the income is being reported, etc. Of course asking for all that is likely to get you a 'forget it' response from the owner. In Paris in particular, a property must be registered as a 'commercial property' in order to be legally rented for less than 1 year. Ask for proof.
What happens in reality is that most people don't even know it may be illegal and those that do ignore it because they are more interested in saving money vs. a hotel than anything else. They don't perceive any real risk of consequences. The risks do of course exist whether they wish to see them or not.
Most B&Bs are probably legal. Most 'Gites' type of accomodation are probably legal. Where the problem is most common is when there is an absentee landlord and the property is a 100% buy-to-rent property.
NONE of them screen their customers to make sure they are renting legally. ALL of them simply state that they expect both the owner and the renter to obey the law. THEIR butt is covered, your butt is your problem.
Renting is no different than buying any other product. Caveat Emptor always applies.
People say to read reviews but reviews will not tell you if a property is being rented legally. 'It was nice, we liked it, we had no problems, everything was as advertised' doesn't tell you if it was legal.
Finding out if it is legal is not easy. You could check with the town hall to see if it is registered, you could ask the owner to show you (e-mail) a copy of the registration as a short term rental. You could ask for proof that hotel taxes are being paid or that the income is being reported, etc. Of course asking for all that is likely to get you a 'forget it' response from the owner. In Paris in particular, a property must be registered as a 'commercial property' in order to be legally rented for less than 1 year. Ask for proof.
What happens in reality is that most people don't even know it may be illegal and those that do ignore it because they are more interested in saving money vs. a hotel than anything else. They don't perceive any real risk of consequences. The risks do of course exist whether they wish to see them or not.
Most B&Bs are probably legal. Most 'Gites' type of accomodation are probably legal. Where the problem is most common is when there is an absentee landlord and the property is a 100% buy-to-rent property.
Jan 20th, 2014, 07:48 AM
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I vacation rent an apartment on rue de Seine between rue de Buci and rue Jacob. I was first in contact with the owner in 2009 when the apartment was first listed. Many of my friends have also stayed there upon my recommendation and also one Fodorite and one Trip Advisor poster. The Tripadvisor poster had selected the apartment and then posted if anyone had stayed in it. I responded and that poster and spouse decided to go for it, liked it, and then wrote a review. I like the fact that the apartment keys are sent out before I leave home, so I can arrive whenever I arrive. And then when I get home, I just mail the keys back to the owner as she lives in N.Y.
The apartment does not have air conditioning, but does have a big fan. No one has complained about there not being air conditioning, so maybe the apartment stays cool. I stayed at the hotel, right next door to the apartment building, for 9 years of trips and most of those years were in the heat of summer and I didn't have air conditioning, but my room was cool enough.
If you're interested in the apartment, let me know. I first found it through homeaway.com. But, last summer the owner e-mailed all previous guests and will now only rent through referrals from previous guests. She has her own website as she has other properties in France. She's American and a realtor. There are lots of reviews on her Paris apartment of which I wrote one of the early reviews.
If you're interested then I'd either need an e-mail address or if you're also on Tripadvisor, you can PM me there. I looked at the availability calendar and although the first week in June is booked, the other weeks in June are still available.
What is your budget for a weekly rental?
Happy Travels!
The apartment does not have air conditioning, but does have a big fan. No one has complained about there not being air conditioning, so maybe the apartment stays cool. I stayed at the hotel, right next door to the apartment building, for 9 years of trips and most of those years were in the heat of summer and I didn't have air conditioning, but my room was cool enough.
If you're interested in the apartment, let me know. I first found it through homeaway.com. But, last summer the owner e-mailed all previous guests and will now only rent through referrals from previous guests. She has her own website as she has other properties in France. She's American and a realtor. There are lots of reviews on her Paris apartment of which I wrote one of the early reviews.
If you're interested then I'd either need an e-mail address or if you're also on Tripadvisor, you can PM me there. I looked at the availability calendar and although the first week in June is booked, the other weeks in June are still available.
What is your budget for a weekly rental?
Happy Travels!
Jan 20th, 2014, 02:35 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think technically, all vacation rentals in Paris are illegal unless the "landlord" or agency owns them and they are meant solely to be short-term vacation rentals, and the agency is listed with the govt and has the proper paperwork. In other words, if people own property and rent rooms out occasionally, for less than a month, I think they are illegal (probably most of VRBO). I think it is possible for a place to be rented legally if an owner registers it properly with the city somehow, and has the right insurance and taxes, but I don't know the details.
IN any case, the law isn't being enforced much, so I don't think the vacationer renting a place would be doing something illegal as far as the insurance company is concerned, if there is a binding contract. I suspect US insurance companies don't know anything about the intricacies of Parisian law, anyway. I don't rent any vacation apartment if I think there is chance I'll cancel. Yes, I suppose some totally unforeseen event could happen to me, like getting hit by a bus, but losing some vacation deposit for an apt. wouldn't be my major concern, not do I think the odds are worth worrying about.
If it is illegal in Paris, I find it very odd that the official Paris Tourism Website has a section of vacation rental agencies you can use that are registered with the office of tourism. Maybe those are okay, don't know. http://www.parisinfo.com/ou-dormir/appartements-meubles
IN any case, the law isn't being enforced much, so I don't think the vacationer renting a place would be doing something illegal as far as the insurance company is concerned, if there is a binding contract. I suspect US insurance companies don't know anything about the intricacies of Parisian law, anyway. I don't rent any vacation apartment if I think there is chance I'll cancel. Yes, I suppose some totally unforeseen event could happen to me, like getting hit by a bus, but losing some vacation deposit for an apt. wouldn't be my major concern, not do I think the odds are worth worrying about.
If it is illegal in Paris, I find it very odd that the official Paris Tourism Website has a section of vacation rental agencies you can use that are registered with the office of tourism. Maybe those are okay, don't know. http://www.parisinfo.com/ou-dormir/appartements-meubles
Jan 21st, 2014, 06:35 AM
#10
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christina, when you say 'isn't being enforced much', what does that mean? That the OP will not have a problem? What if they rent the one where it does get enforced?
http://www.connexionfrance.com/paris...s-article.html
Regarding insurance, every insurance company has a department which does not appear on any company hierarchy chart, whose sole job is to deny claims. Every claim goes there first.
Insurance companies are far more aware of just how they can deny a claim that you or I are. You can bet that every travel insurance company is well aware of the situation in regards to illegal rentals. You can also bet if they get an idea that that is the case with a person making a claim, they will deny the claim on the basis that the person was doing something illegal at the time and therefore the policy is void. NEVER assume you can fool an insurance company or that they are not aware and won't check.
There ARE legal rentals which are registered as commercial properties. There is nothing 'odd' about the Tourism Website listing them.
http://www.connexionfrance.com/paris...s-article.html
Regarding insurance, every insurance company has a department which does not appear on any company hierarchy chart, whose sole job is to deny claims. Every claim goes there first.
Insurance companies are far more aware of just how they can deny a claim that you or I are. You can bet that every travel insurance company is well aware of the situation in regards to illegal rentals. You can also bet if they get an idea that that is the case with a person making a claim, they will deny the claim on the basis that the person was doing something illegal at the time and therefore the policy is void. NEVER assume you can fool an insurance company or that they are not aware and won't check.
There ARE legal rentals which are registered as commercial properties. There is nothing 'odd' about the Tourism Website listing them.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
aimeep
Europe
8
Dec 23rd, 2009 04:11 AM
