Accused more than once of squeezing a nickel until the buffalo passes gas, I'd jump on it at the price if my friend in Paris was able to see it and report back favorably. From the photos it appears to be a budget accommodation - you are getting what you pay for. He may simply be an owner that does not wish to get into a lot of managing and just casually rents it out, not counting on it as a source oif regular income. . I have done short term rentals via craigslist in multiple cities (including NY and Paris) with good luck. The fact that he is no asking for a deposit is significant. Most of the scam posters offer outrageously low prices for what is offered and demand money up front, usually sent by Western Union or similar risky methods.

P.S. to christina - VRBO does indeed charge owners, just not the same way that a property management company does.

It looks like a tremendous deal to me, but as the owner of a property in France I just can't imagine not asking for a deposit, because there are so very many things renters can do to mess up a property. In 15 years of renting I only had to withhold the deposit twice, but in those cases I would have been royally screwed if I hadn't had that deposit. Just seems strange to me. I'm thinking he's trying to stay under the radar as the renter of a Parisian apartment in some way. That's not to say it would be a bad thing to rent from him. Things usually turn out all right, IME.

Well thank you everyone, we actually found a similar place on Rue de Archives in the Marais from a different private owner for the same price but the whole transaction was much more secure and legitimate.

I will update with more information later but this one had me feeling much better!

PS. I think I made my standards clear in my posts so opinions on the appearance of the place based on the photos are not needed. I am not blind, but thank you.

Hi,
KevDon I am glad you have settled on an apartment! Do you still want info in Ile St Louis?

The interesting stuff I found is far too much to post on this board - I have decided to scan all the relevant information pertaining only to the islands - that way folks can extract what they haven't yet discovered, make notes in their respective guide book or whatever, and take it from there.

I have KevDon's email & Gomiki's. Michel_Paris and Roamer if you don't want to put your regular email on show I suggest you do a smart thing like KevDon and open a special one for this information I will be sending.

Note: This is how I have gone about salvaging all the information I am particularly interested in, be it buildings, streets, restaurants, gardens, etc. etc. after finding out that carrying 10 or so books with me each time is MADNESS!
So, I photo-copied a good map of Paris from one of my guides(in colour) then made sure the reverse of each page was blank.
I assembled them again with a nice cover & page binder.
Then started scribbling notes on the blank side and marking various places on the map!
This little 'book' of mine is now starting to look shabby and is too full of stuff I've already done over the three years since I started it. This year I am going with a new 'improved' one and am having fun collecting info on places and things I still want to get to!

Right - I've sent the scannd information to you KevDon & Gomiki at the email addresses given. Please let me know if you have got everything OK.

Hi,
I would like to see your information to Paris.
We are planning a family vacation and it will be very useful for us.
If you can please send me .My e-mail is - [email protected]

Hi,
tod ,I would like to see your information to Paris.
We are planning a family vacation and it will be very useful for us.
If you can please send me .My e-mail is - [email protected]

Irenak - It's been sent, but is only facts and interesting
stuff on the two islands. Lots on how they used to look pre-Haussmann.

Tod, one more request for your Paris info, please. My husband and I are staying for a week in April on the Ile St. Louis(we found our apartment on www.parisaddress.com) --- we've got a few books, but as you say it's difficult to bring them all over for the trip, and we'd be very interested to learn more about the history of the two islands! Thanks very much,
[email protected]

I hope you check back in after your trip and report on how the rental in the Marais works out. Another great location.

You're very welcome rmw555 - it's sent.

I feel a bit naughty having kinda interrupted KevDon's post about advice for an apartment - I love exchanging information so hope you guys don't mind?!

I think you've taken something else, but one thing to check carefully - is the owner the owner or a tenant seeking to sublet
(usually illegally in terms of the conditions of the lease) while away for a few weeks. Many many Craigslists apartments for short term rentals are of the latter kind. If it's an illegal sublet, be very careful. I think these often (although not always) account for the cheap price and lack of conditions you describe above.

tod, Thank you so much for the suggestion - I hadn't thought of a separate account! Please send the info to [email protected]. I'm certain no one minds your willingness to share information!

roamer - I have tried several times to send the link to you but there seems to be something wrong with your email address.
Got another one?

Hi
tod , I'm sorry but I don't receive your letter.Please try again.My e-mail is "[email protected]"
No spaces or quotation marks

I have tried several times today. This is the message I keep getting:

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<[email protected]>:
194.153.145.77 does not like recipient.
Remote host said: 550 5.1.1 <[email protected]>: Recipient address rejected: User unknown in virtual mailbox table
Giving up on 194.153.145.77.

Tod; Just wanted to say we got the email and thank you very VERY much! I feel a bit guilty taking advantage of someones such hard work but we are very grateful.

Anyone who is interested in his information, do not pass up!

Thank you again everyone,

Kevin

tod..if you could.. Seine4129 at gmail

tod, thanks for trying again - [email protected].

Hi tod
please let try again with another e-mail
[email protected]
i'm very sorry