HELP:Student appt-paris
May 30th, 2004 | 05:02 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2004
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HELP:Student appt-paris
i will be living in paris from september as a student, but need to sort out accomodation. i'm looking for a studio in 5th,6th,7th(first choice),15th and possibly 4th. i can only spend about 650euros a month. does anyone have any ideas? thanx
May 30th, 2004 | 06:02 AM
#2
Joined: Oct 2003
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How long will you be there? If for several months or longer I would think you need to use a real estate agent - if the housing office of the school you are going to is not any help.
Don;t know real estate prices in paris - but if its similar to New York that kind of budget will get you an apartment only in a distant suburb - not city center.
Don;t know real estate prices in paris - but if its similar to New York that kind of budget will get you an apartment only in a distant suburb - not city center.
May 30th, 2004 | 06:50 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
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This site has a lot of apts in Paris, with rates in your price range:
http://paris.lodgis.com/en/
I don't know anything about the agency or its reliability, however.
http://paris.lodgis.com/en/
I don't know anything about the agency or its reliability, however.
May 30th, 2004 | 08:25 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 35,152
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Paris is very expensive and I don't think you are going to get an apartment in the prime arrondisements for that price. You might be able to in the 15th. It will be very small. Other students or interns I know who have lived in Paris have had to move to outer arrondisements or simply have a single room in a rooming house (foyer).
If you view lodgis.com, be aware that the long-term rental fees shown there don't include their agency commission, which is quite high, but gets down to 10 pct or so if you stay very long term. They don't seem to have anything in the 7th or even 15th at that price, but I only looked quickly--that doesn't surprise me. Even the only one I saw around 700 euros in the 15th (which was very very small, like a hotel room) would be a lot more when you add in their commission.
A better idea is to search French/Parisian apt. ad websites to book directly from owners without a large commission. There are several around like this, as I've seen them. It would help if you know French at least at a moderate level to use these. www.seloger.com is one example which has a lot of ads of various kinds (rentals, student foyers/residents, sales) and they do have some small furnished, very basic studios in that price range. I don't know if they have an agency fee on top of the rent shown or not.
As others suggest, a school should ideally be helping you with this and there is an official French association that helps students with housing, also (CROUS). They have a web site; their main Parisian office is just in back (north) of the bd Port Royal RER stop. Perhaps it depends what kind of school you are going to, but the school should tell you about those kind of resources if you are eligible for them.
Of course there are ads in various publications geared to ex-pats or those visiting Paris for a long time, such as FUSAC and perhaps the Journal d'Amerique.
If you view lodgis.com, be aware that the long-term rental fees shown there don't include their agency commission, which is quite high, but gets down to 10 pct or so if you stay very long term. They don't seem to have anything in the 7th or even 15th at that price, but I only looked quickly--that doesn't surprise me. Even the only one I saw around 700 euros in the 15th (which was very very small, like a hotel room) would be a lot more when you add in their commission.
A better idea is to search French/Parisian apt. ad websites to book directly from owners without a large commission. There are several around like this, as I've seen them. It would help if you know French at least at a moderate level to use these. www.seloger.com is one example which has a lot of ads of various kinds (rentals, student foyers/residents, sales) and they do have some small furnished, very basic studios in that price range. I don't know if they have an agency fee on top of the rent shown or not.
As others suggest, a school should ideally be helping you with this and there is an official French association that helps students with housing, also (CROUS). They have a web site; their main Parisian office is just in back (north) of the bd Port Royal RER stop. Perhaps it depends what kind of school you are going to, but the school should tell you about those kind of resources if you are eligible for them.
Of course there are ads in various publications geared to ex-pats or those visiting Paris for a long time, such as FUSAC and perhaps the Journal d'Amerique.
May 30th, 2004 | 11:06 AM
#6
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,558
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katej,
Finding decent and affordable student lodging in Paris is not an easy task - been there, done that.
Unfortunately, the application deadline for the CROUS residence halls was April 30, so that's not an option. However, their website is worth looking at for lots of info:
www.crous-paris.fr
Depending on which country you're from, you MIGHT be eligible for one of the national houses at the Cite Internationale - check their website for further details:
www.ciup.fr
If that doesn't work, my advice would be to set up a short term solution and look for something better once you get to Paris - your best bet is to network and find something through word of mouth. I would ask your school (which one BTW?) for recommended "Foyers étudiants" (student residences) and take something there (make sure you don't have to commit for an entire year) - that way you have a roof over your head and can look for something better.
There is some good news - as a student, you are entitled to a pretty substantial french goverment subsidy towards your rental expenses, because your parents' income is not taken into account! These are paid out by the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales). The application process used to be quite tedious, but appears to be largely simplified now. I simulated an application on their website for a student renting a EUR 650 apartment and the subsidy came out to EUR 166 a month! IIRC, you can only claim retroactively for 3 months, so don't forget to apply. The website with info is:
www.caf.fr
Have a great time!
Andre
Finding decent and affordable student lodging in Paris is not an easy task - been there, done that.
Unfortunately, the application deadline for the CROUS residence halls was April 30, so that's not an option. However, their website is worth looking at for lots of info:
www.crous-paris.fr
Depending on which country you're from, you MIGHT be eligible for one of the national houses at the Cite Internationale - check their website for further details:
www.ciup.fr
If that doesn't work, my advice would be to set up a short term solution and look for something better once you get to Paris - your best bet is to network and find something through word of mouth. I would ask your school (which one BTW?) for recommended "Foyers étudiants" (student residences) and take something there (make sure you don't have to commit for an entire year) - that way you have a roof over your head and can look for something better.
There is some good news - as a student, you are entitled to a pretty substantial french goverment subsidy towards your rental expenses, because your parents' income is not taken into account! These are paid out by the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales). The application process used to be quite tedious, but appears to be largely simplified now. I simulated an application on their website for a student renting a EUR 650 apartment and the subsidy came out to EUR 166 a month! IIRC, you can only claim retroactively for 3 months, so don't forget to apply. The website with info is:
www.caf.fr
Have a great time!
Andre
