this thread is almost 3 years old... while it may have good information, it is also old.

I know this thread is old and the craigs list posting is long gone, but does anyone remember what the renter's problem was with the neighbourhood? (I realize there may have been problems with the landlord as well...)

I stayed not too far from the intersection of Lenoir/Voltaire on rue Jean Pierre Timbaud and it was perfectly fine. Better than fine, in fact. Not St Germain de Pres by any stretch of the imagination, but that's one of the reasons why I liked it so much.

Worthy of mention is the fact that Richard Lenoir has a very popular street market on Sundays and there's the Popincourt Market in the vicinity as well. When I was there earlier this year, Popincourt had all middle-class Parisian shoppers and no tourists except for myself.

I just finished a one year rental in Paris, and was astonished to just receive a closing statement from the landlord, for over $8,000!
In addition to losing the approx $5000 depsoit, they are threating to sue for the balance. I am not sure if they can sue and win without me being present in Paris.
We left the APt in EXCELLENT condition, a few broken plates and glasses, but everything else repaired or replaced (lightbulbs, curtains,paint,etc)
Now they want to repaint the Apt at a cost of approx $3-4000, and the sofa from Ikea, with a missing button on the cushion, replaced for $500, etc, etc.

Never thought someone would resort to these tactics.

julies
I tried to open the link you provided to craigslist but it came up as an error.

Intex,

Didn't you insist on having a checkout walk-through with the owner, or his agent before departure? That is the time to discuss and resolve any flaws in the apartment above and beyond normal wear and tear.

He sort of has you by the short and curlies at this late date.

:-(

Intex,

Did you do the 'Etat des lieux' when you arrived and when you left ? This document is very important.

Maybe start a new thread to separate your problem out from this old post.

<i>Author: Intex
Date: 01/07/2009, 09:37 pm

We left the APt in EXCELLENT condition, a few broken plates and glasses, but everything else repaired or replaced (lightbulbs, curtains,paint,etc)</i>

What's wrong with this picture?
EXCELLENT condition
broken plates and glasses
repaired or replaced (lightbulbs, curtains, paint, etc)

One way of interpreting these data might be that Intex wasted the place, then put a band-aid here and there to collect the deposit. I'd like to hear the landlord's side of this story.

Right on, Robespierre - I think there are two sides to this! If the place was nice enough to warrant a $5000 security deposit, I wouldn't be happy with a missing button on the couch, either.

BTW, intex, were you staying in the apt., or was this the apt. you were renting for your student daughter - or was it son?

I'm sure there are two sides, and we can't tell. All I know is I have never needed to replace or repair things in an apt. I've lived in a year, as I never inflicted damage to things. I can see how you might break a glass or plate, but needing to repair or replace curtains??

$500 for a couch is real cheap, actually, as that's only about 375 euro, isn't it? The problem with a couch is you can't easily repair a button on one, if it can't be matched. Then it just looks bad. So what would I do if I had a rental apt. and didn't feel it would display the best for renters if the couch were damaged ? I suppose I would have to replace the couch.

I'm really not judging, but I am saying that I've never damaged an apt nor needed to replace curtains, etc. after being there one year. Nor needed to repaint things. The apts I've been in didn't really need painting after one year, but some landlords want things looking real fresh, I suppose.

The landlord came back to Paris the night before we left at 6am the next day. When you dont agree with something he says, what are you going to do, stay over to fight it? He said, sign the paper, and he would send our deposit back minus a few hundred euros, I thought it was OK, and left.