The life of a student can be quite a hassle, and even more tedious for students immigrating to new countries in pursuit of academic growth. These experiences are similar almost the world over. One of the biggest concerns for almost all international students in finding suitable accommodation in their host countries. Let’s see about renting for international students in Paris.
Paris takes center stage in this guide for international students.
Paris student accommodation in a nutshell
For starters, Paris is one of the busiest education capitals in the world. To put this into perspective, the city receives over 1.6 million applications for accommodation from the student population alone each year. Student accommodation in the city’s more than 1000 public dormitories is scarce, and these rooms are quickly snapped up by the rapidly growing population of local students. Resources are under even more strain as the education calendar creates a bottleneck when a large number of students apply for accommodation at the same time.
To make matters worse, Paris does not offer special accommodation to international students, meaning students have to compete with the rest of the population for the available accommodations at normal market rates.
At this point, renting for the international student might seem like a Herculean task. With the right planning and a little bit of luck though, you should have few problems finding apartment rentals in Paris apartments for rent on a monthly basis.
Here are a few tips to help you get settled in quickly and easily.
Research
We live in an era where information literally is at our fingertips, and this is a very good thing. There is lots of information about pretty much every topic on the internet. There are more than a dozen websites that offer updated information on rental rates and available units all around Paris. Some even offer district-specific and detailed information on available units. Additionally, a little knowledge of the 20 arrondissements will go a long way in making the renting process easy.
In addition to websites dealing in property and housing, there are hundreds of blogs that provide even more personal experiences about the process of apartment rentals in Paris. In particular, these are an excellent source of information as they give a personalized and true reflection of the house-hunting journey. (savethechimps)
The best part about online research is that it’s cheaper and hassle-free as compared to a physical search, and you don’t need to worry about language barriers as most websites come with translation functions. However, you are advised against sharing financial data with unverified sources online to avoid getting defrauded.
Expect less
Paris is famous for its monuments and rich history. Visitors trooping to this city do so expecting to be wowed and enchanted by its history and magnificent museums, churches, and monuments, and it never fails to deliver.
Paris also is one of the most expensive cities to live in. That said, places considered affordable to international students have below-par housing units that do not feel like ‘Paris’. You need not be surprised to find a 9-square foot, single room with a shared kitchen and bathroom going for over $500 a month.
It’s always a good idea to keep your expectations low when house-hunting in Paris. However, don’t settle for anything out of desperation.
Have your documents ready
Most landlords and agencies will need to verify your papers as the initial step of the rental process. Some of the documents you need to have include a valid identification document, current address, financial statements or a financial guarantor, bank details and proof of study.
It’s very important that you have these documents ready, as most agencies will require them upfront before any transactions can be done.
Visit if you can
Living in a time when flight restrictions between countries happen unexpectedly can make it difficult to see apartments in advance. However, if it is within your means, a trip to Paris will greatly aid the house-hunting process. Alternatively, if you have contacts within Paris, you can use them to check out possible units for you.
You might want to confirm the house you booked is the exact one you saw online before making any payments. Additionally, you can get solid information about the area you are looking to settle in by talking to the locals.
Check Out CROUS
CROUS is a student accommodation and is among the cheapest housing options available to students in Paris. This makes it highly sought after and, as such, quite difficult for international students to get. Even so, this does not mean international students are barred from applying for accommodation in CROUS. With luck and aptness, you can still get accommodated in CROUS.
Additionally, international students can access housing units put up by specific countries at Cite Universitaire. The rooms are open to all applicants, not just nationalities of countries that set up the houses.
Conclusion
Early planning is essential for international students looking for apartment rentals in Paris. This is key in ensuring that one gets a chance among a million other students looking for similar accommodations. Adequate research and early preparation will lessen the last-minute rush for limited accommodation units. Have all the required documents ready, manage your expectations and get on the scene early, and you might just score comfort and value for money.
