Accomodation in Paris

It is not easy to find accommodation in Paris when you are French. And it is even more difficult, when you are foreign student coming to Paris for one year (not to say one semester).
There are few important things you have to know, when you want to find something in Paris.

1. For one person, count on something between 350 and 600 euros (don't worry, you can find also much more expensive accommodation).
Lot of the rooms and flats is rent without a lease, so do not count on CAF aid. No lease, no CAf and since it is really difficult to find something in Paris, it is sometimes better to take the flat without the lease.

2. It is necessary to start searching AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. The sooner the better and every day means longer queue and more competition and of course higher rent sum. If you can, start even vefore you arrive in Paris, however, do always want to see the photos of the room - even if it is far from city center and expensive, it does not mean it is nice room.
We started 5th September and found something in 4 days, but we were really lucky. French students are coming to Paris to search for accom. in the middle of September, so you should be there before them, lot of owners prefer French students with parent's guarantee to exchange students.

3. If you want to lease a flat, the owner will probably want you to have a guarantee. This means, to have someone French with rather good financial status who can prove he has some money and who promises to owner that he would pay the rent instead of you, if there was any problem.
If you do not know any French, you can also ask your bank to provide you with Loca Pass.Read the conditions carefully, as not everyone has right to obtain Loca Pass.

4. The best arrondisements to live in are these to the south of the Seine and along the Seine, to north and east of Gare de l'Est arrondisements are rather dangerous, especially for young girls. The most dangerous places are right around Gare du Nord, Saint Denis. Try to avoid 19eme and 20eme arrondissemet.

5. Always call to answer the adverts. Always call right after you find the advert, after 5 minutes, it can be late. It is better to get up and search from 8am, so that you were the first to see the advert.

6. Do not be afraid of shared toilet, it is rather common in cheaper rooms in old houses, however you share toilet (or bathroom) with max 2 or 3 other people. Just go and check the room, and you may be lucky and have as great view of Sacre Coeur and Eiffel Tower as we have. And this worths sharing the toilet with one other guy, is not it?

Places where to look and where we looked:

www.appartager.com – for those who search for colocation, you can find free rooms, even from your home state, however, you have to pay about 30euros to get access to contact infomation.

www.pap.fr – Particuliers a Particuliers – every Thursday comes out in paper form, however, it is rather useless to buy it, it is better to use online version.

American church at Quai d'Orsay.

www.bdescpo.fr – Bureau Des Eleves Sciences Po has on its web pages place where owners can publish they adverts meant specifically for Sciences Po students, thus means that the flats and rooms are usually near Sciences Po, you have to member of BDE to have access to contact info and it costs 10 euros for one year.

Places you can also check in your desperate quest:

http://www.seloger.com/
http://www.location-etudiant.fr/
http://www.parisetudiant.com/etudes/seloger.php
http://www.mapiaule.com/
http://www.recherche-colocation.com/colocation-etudiant-paris.html
http://www.appartement-etudiant.fr/