Last verified: October 2026 — Sources: Service-Public.fr, ANIL
Finding an apartment in France — especially in cities like Paris, Lyon or Bordeaux — is one of the toughest challenges when you first arrive. Landlords require a complete and competitive dossier de location (rental application file). Without a CDI, without a French track record and without a local guarantor, the search can be frustrating. But there are solutions.
Types of rental
- Location vide (unfurnished): no furniture provided. Standard lease is 3 years (renewable). Notice period to leave: 3 months (1 month in areas classified as zone tendue).
- Location meublée (furnished): apartment with legally required furniture (bed, table, chairs, equipped kitchen, etc.). Lease is 1 year (9 months for students). Notice period: 1 month.
- Colocation (flat-sharing): either individual leases per room or a single lease for all tenants.
The dossier de location: what documents you need
The landlord or agency may legally request these documents (Décret n° 2015-1437):
- Identity document (national ID card or passport).
- Proof of current address (utility bill, temporary accommodation, attestation d’hébergement).
- Proof of employment: employment contract or employer letter, or Kbis extract if self-employed.
- Proof of income: last three payslips, or most recent tax notice (avis d’imposition), or scholarship certificate for students.
- The unwritten rule: landlords typically expect your net salary to be at least 3 times the monthly rent.
Important: the landlord may request your employment contract, but not bank account statements or documents outside the legally authorised list. Check the official list before sharing sensitive information.
The guarantor (garant)
A guarantor is a person (or entity) who commits to paying your rent if you cannot. In practice, it is almost always required, especially if you are young, newly arrived or on a CDD.
Options if you don’t have a guarantor in France
- Visale (visale.fr): a free government-backed guarantee through Action Logement. Covers people under 30, employees during their trial period or mobility, and holders of a bail mobilité. Highly recommended as a first step.
- Private guarantees: commercial rent-guarantee services exist. Check their terms, price and whether the landlord accepts them before subscribing.
- Deposit limits: landlords cannot freely increase the security deposit or demand additional payments simply to sign a residential lease. Legal limits depend on the rental type.
Move-in costs
- Dépôt de garantie (security deposit): maximum 1 month’s rent (excluding charges) for unfurnished, 2 months for furnished. Returned when you leave if the apartment is in good condition.
- First month’s rent: paid upon signing the lease.
- Agency fees (frais d’agence): the tenant’s share is capped. In 2026, for visits, the application file and lease drafting, the cap is €12.10/m² in very high-pressure areas and €10.09/m² in high-pressure areas, with a separate cap elsewhere and a limit of half the relevant fee. Inventory fees have a separate cap. Check the official calculator for your address.
- Home insurance (assurance habitation): rental-risk insurance is required for tenants in ordinary residential leases. Costs vary with the property and cover; compare quotations.
Where to search for apartments
- Main portals: Le Bon Coin (private and agency listings), SeLoger, PAP (private only), Bien’ici.
- Facebook groups: active in major cities. Watch out for scams — never pay before viewing the apartment.
- Youth worker residences (FJT): an affordable temporary option while you search for a longer-term place.
- Local letting agencies.
Housing benefits (APL and others)
The CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales) provides housing benefits that can significantly reduce your rent. See our guide on French administrative procedures for more on CAF applications.
Common mistakes
- Searching from abroad and paying a deposit remotely: a very common scam. Never pay anything before seeing the apartment in person (or via a verified video call with the landlord).
- Not reading the état des lieux: the check-in inventory (état des lieux d’entrée) protects your security deposit. Go through it carefully and note every defect.
- Forgetting home insurance: it is mandatory and the landlord can cancel your lease if you don’t have it.
- Ignoring rent controls (encadrement des loyers): in Paris, Lyon, Lille and other cities, rents are capped per square metre. Check on your local council’s website.
Official sources
- Service-Public.fr — Location immobilière
- ANIL — Agence Nationale pour l’Information sur le Logement
- Visale — Free government-backed guarantee
- CAF — Housing benefits
Rental conditions, prices and required documents vary depending on the city, type of housing and your personal situation. Contact the ADIL in your département for advice tailored to your case.