How to find student accommodation for the start of the school year?

How to find student accommodation for the start of the school year?
Student accommodation As the start of the academic year approaches, finding student accommodation is often an obstacle course as the supply is minimal compared to the demand. Here is a brief overview of student accommodation:
Compared to foreign countries, France does not offer as many structures dedicated to welcoming the student population. Young people entering college have relatively few options for finding decent housing suited to their financial possibilities.

Classic rental

This is accommodation that the owner leases by advertising directly in newspapers, on the Internet or through a real estate agency. In general, a minimum monthly rent of 600 euros should be expected, including charges, for a studio of 30 m². This amount reaches 740 euros per month for Paris where rents are still high despite exceptions in some districts.

The end of exorbitant agency fees

If a student wishes to go through a real estate agency, he will generally have to pay between 1.5 and 2.5 times the amount of his rent to pay the fees. Some agencies do not hesitate to exceed this amount in areas where demand is much greater than supply, such as the Paris region. These abuses will end on September 15, 2014, when a new law regarding the cap on rental agency fees will be applied.

Tenants will now pay according to the size and area of ​​their accommodation. The price will therefore vary between 11 and 15 € per square meter. For example, for a 30m² apartment in Paris, the tenant will have to pay € 450 in agency fees, compared to around € 1,400 in normal times (twice the rent). A hell of a saving!

No more hassle of the guarantor

It is often necessary to provide a guarantee equivalent to three or four months' rent. You can find a joint surety in the person of a friend, a member of the family, an organization, or even a bank which undertakes in writing to pay your rent if you do not succeed. . This guarantor must reside in France or in the European Union. This is why it is not easy for a foreign student to find such accommodation in their first year.

Fortunately, since September 8, 2014, the nightmare of the search for guarantors has come to an end for all students in France. Indeed, the government is setting up the CLE (Caution Locative Etudiante), a system open to all students under the age of 28, regardless of income. For a contribution of 1.5% of the rent including charges, the State guarantees in the event of non-payment of the rent by the tenant.The amount of rent covered will be capped at € 500 in the Province, € 600 in Ile-de-France and 700 euros in Paris. For couples, this ceiling will be increased by 60%.

To benefit from the CLE, you must register with the Lokavitz student accommodation center

Colocation

This is the preferred solution for students who have not obtained a room in a university campus. It allows you to have more space and to share the rent with several people, which reduces the financial burden for each. In addition, the level of comfort is generally higher than that of a small studio and there is often a friendly atmosphere among the young people. Finally, it is always possible to apply for housing assistance, as in the case where you rent a room from a private individual.

University residences

This is the best solution for a student who wants to obtain accommodation with a rent within the reach of his purchasing power. They are managed by the Regional Centers for University Works (CROUS), 28 in number, grouped together in the National Center for University and School Works (CNOUS). You can get a furnished room of 10 m² for a monthly rent of 115 euros. In some university housing estates there are even studios and one-room apartments with a surface area of ​​18 to 23 m² accessible for 224 to 301 euros per month.

Scams to avoid

As the demand for student housing is most of the time greater than the supply, it happens that some agencies or landlords take advantage of the situation to scam young people.

Beware of rents that are low in relation to the neighborhood or the living area. You should never send money before you have visited the accommodation and signed the lease agreement. Some individuals sell you a list of goods that might be what you are looking for. However, this service, which costs between 150 and 500 euros, does not give you any guarantee of finding the small apartment you want. Also, the merchant may have sold their list to more than one person, and there may be up to ten of you visiting the same location.

Necessary condition for the smooth running of an academic year, finding accommodation