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Study year

  • Shared accommodation

LGS178047.jpg   More and more students and also workers with modest income find in shared flats an economic accommodation solution. Usually, the tenant of a large flat (two bedrooms or more) will look for a flatmate to split the rent with. Each has his/her own bedroom and shares the facilities like the kitchen and the bathroom. The cost of this type of accommodation can amount to around €280 to €380 per month (up to €450 a month in Paris).   This solution offers several advantages. First, the cost of a flat is rarely proportional to the number of bedrooms, so it is much cheaper to rent a room in a large flat than an individual bedsit. Second, sharing a flat can be an excellent way to make friends!   So, it is very important to choose your flatmate carefully, to make sure you can live together harmoniously. Conflicts over issues like smoking, pets and late hours are frequent. It's also a good idea to specify things like housework, supplies and insurance from the outset.A selection of websites with flat-sharing offers:

 

  • Campus accommodation (Cités universitaires)

   It is the cheapest but also the most sought after accommodation. CROUS centres (regional centres for university and school programmes) manage 532 university residences throughout France. Low income families have priority.    "Cités Us" (campus accommodation) are being renovated, thanks to grants from both the State and regional councils that have been used to renovate existing stock and build new residences to meet the ever-increasing demand that could no longer be satisfied by existing facilities. In older residences, students live in individual bedrooms and have to share cooking facilities and showers with other tenants of the same floor. In the new residences, students live in bedsits with a kitchenette and bathroom facilities. Both have recreational areas, workrooms and laundry facilities. CROUS centres provide accommodation in rooms, bedsits and even low income social housing for young couples.    A limited number of places in "Cités Us" are available for foreign students, who should contact the CROUS centres directly (See addresses below).    More on the application criteria for campus accommodation: 

http://www.cnous.fr/_etudier_127.htm    

 

  • Private students residences 

   In France, five large private chains (Eurostudomes, Gestrim Campus, Comadim résidence services and Réside Études) offer bedsits between 12 and 40 m² , with fully-equipped kitchenettes, bathrooms and WC. Rents may vary from €300 to 600, which does not include electricity (an additional €30 to 46 per month). Prices are slightly lower outside Paris.    Gestrim Campus and Comadim Résidence services manage around 5,000 residences, mainly located in the Paris region, while Eurostudiomes and Réside Études manage 12,000 residences throughout France. Fac-Habitat Association manages more than 2,500 student residences throughout France. A selection of websites to find a student residence:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Young workers residences

   Hostels are open to young French or foreign nationals aged between 18 and 30. Young workers tend to use them most, but young trainees in vocational or basic training programmes can avail of them more and more, as young unemployed. Foreign students can also have access to them. Some hostels even accept couples or single parents with a child, and some have facilities for disabled people. Putting it shortly: don't be put off by the name, young workers residences are for almost everyone. However many hostels impose an age limit of 25 to 30.    Hostels are usually open 24 hours a day. They can offer small, furnished apartments, bedsits or single rooms with bathroom facilities and a kitchenette. Laundry facilities, a cafeteria, catering facilities and various activity rooms are usually available on the premises. In addition, they can also offer job or vocational training advice workshops, help with administrative formalities (applications for housing allowance, tax forms), advice on family or health issues. They organise leisure activities as well (dances, excursions, trips... ).    Hostels ask for fees rather than a rent as such. These can vary considerably, from €182 to 381 per month (up to €480 in Paris) and include the rent, all service charges (water, electricity, gas, heating), along with furniture, laundry service and upkeep of the shared facilities.    Those interested in this type of accommodation should contact hostels directly.   A selection of websites with a list of young workers residences:

You should also contact the Youth Information Centre of the Region where you plan to study or work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Rooms in private houses (paying guest or room against work)

Some people let bedrooms to students in their homes. The rent is variable, depending on the town and the size of the room. This solution can provide an excellent introduction to the French way of life and a good opportunity to practice French. Offers for this kind of accommodation are often posted on noticeboards in universities. Some associations, mostly based in Paris, also put in touch students with families who can provide a room in exchange for some hours of baby-sitting or housekeeping during the week. A contract is signed by the family and the student, who will not receive money in return for his/her service, but only accommodation and, possibly, meals.A selection of associations putting students in touch with families:

  • Accueil Familial des Jeunes Etrangers (AFJE): paying guest or room against services (www.afje-paris.org)
  • ATOME: paying guest only ( www.atomeparis.com )
  • SEJOUR FRANCE FAMILLE: paying guest only (www.sejoursfrancefamille.fr)
  • CEP: rooms in private houses or rooms against work. You have to go to: 5, rue de l'Abbaye - 75006 Paris, or to call to +33(0)1 55 42 81 23)
  • Le PariSolidaire : rooms provided by elderly people in exchange of some services ( www.leparisolidaire.com )
  • Eglise américaine de Paris (American Church in Paris): rooms in private homes, rooms against work. Consult the noticeboard on their premises: 65, Quai d'Orsay - 75007 PARIS

Sources: CIDJ / EgidePhotos: Goodshoot.com  

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