How to find housing before arriving in France?

Start your search 2–3 months before arrival. Main options: CROUS residences (150–600 €/month via trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr), shared housing (300–800 €/month), private student residences or studios. Be wary of scams and never send money before signing a lease.

What is the difference between CROUS and private housing?

CROUS housing is allocated on social criteria via the DSE (Dossier Social Étudiant), costs 150–600 €/month, requires no guarantor, and is furnished. Private housing is more expensive (500–1,500+ €/month), usually requires a guarantor or Visale, and can be searched year-round.

What is Visale and how do I get it?

Visale is a 100% free rental guarantee from Action Logement for students under 30. It replaces the personal guarantor: if rent is unpaid, Action Logement pays the landlord. Apply on visale.fr before signing the lease. Coverage: up to 36 months of unpaid rent.

What is a DSE (Dossier Social Étudiant)?

The DSE is the mandatory online dossier for all students applying for a CROUS scholarship or CROUS housing. Open it on messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr between January and May. It requires: family tax notices, proof of enrolment, and proof of identity. Even if you are not eligible for a scholarship, open a DSE to access CROUS housing.

How does a lease (contrat de location) work in France?

In France, a lease is a written contract between tenant and landlord. For unfurnished housing: minimum 3-year term. For furnished housing: minimum 1-year term (or 9 months for student leases). The lease must specify: rent, charges, security deposit (1 month for unfurnished, 2 months for furnished), and the condition of the property. An entry inventory of fixtures is mandatory.

What is an entry/exit inventory of fixtures (état des lieux)?

The état des lieux is a detailed written description of the condition of the property at the start (entry) and end (exit) of the tenancy. It is legally required for all French leases. At exit, any damage beyond normal wear and tear can be deducted from your security deposit. Always attend the état des lieux in person and note any existing defects, even minor ones.

How much is the security deposit (caution) in France?

The security deposit is limited by law: 1 month's rent for unfurnished housing, 2 months' rent for furnished housing. It must be returned within 1 month of exit (if no damage) or 2 months (if deductions are made). If the landlord does not return the deposit within the legal deadline, you can file a complaint with the Commission Départementale de Conciliation.

What is a guarantor (garant) and what are the alternatives?

A guarantor (garant) is a person (parent, friend) who commits to paying your rent if you default. Most private landlords require a guarantor with income of at least 3–4 times the rent. For international students without a French guarantor: Visale (free, under 30, visale.fr) or Garantme (paid, 3.5% of rent/month, garantme.fr).

How do I apply for housing benefits (APL/ALS)?

Apply online at caf.fr as soon as you sign your lease. Documents needed: lease, RIB (bank account details), landlord's information (name, address, account number). Processing time: 1–2 months. Benefits are not retroactive — apply immediately. Typical amount: 80–250 €/month depending on your rent, city, and resources.

What is colocation (shared housing) and how does it work legally?

Colocation means sharing a property with several tenants. Two legal forms: single joint lease (bail collectif) where all co-tenants sign the same contract, or individual leases where each person has a separate contract. In a joint lease, all co-tenants are jointly and severally liable for the full rent. Individual leases are less common but easier to manage. Visale covers colocation since 2021.

What is a résidence étudiante privée (private student residence)?

Private student residences are managed by private operators (Nexity, Kley, Adele, etc.). They offer furnished studios with services (reception, laundry, gym) at prices between 400 € and 900 €/month. They are easier to access than CROUS (no DSE required) and accept Visale. They are generally more expensive than CROUS but cheaper than a standard private apartment.

Can I be evicted from my housing in France?

French tenant protection law is very strong. A landlord can only terminate a lease at its expiry date with a legal notice (6 months for unfurnished, 3 months for furnished). Emergency eviction (for unpaid rent) requires a court order and can only be enforced by a huissier. The 'winter truce' (trêve hivernale, 1 November to 31 March) prohibits all evictions from being carried out. Consult the ADIL (Agence Départementale d'Information sur le Logement) in case of dispute.

How do I find furnished housing (meublé) as a student?

Platforms: SeLoger (seloger.com), Leboncoin (leboncoin.fr), LocService (locservice.fr), Studapart (studapart.com), Lokaviz (CROUS-affiliated private housing). For remote viewing, Studapart and Lokaviz offer virtual tours. Avoid wire-transfer payments before viewing the property in person or verifying the landlord's identity.

Housing FAQ for International Students in France

All frequently asked questions about student housing in France — CROUS, Visale, APL/ALS, lease, guarantor — 13 answers with official 2026 data.

Dernière vérification : 1 mars 2026

Housing FAQ for International Students in France

CROUS vs Private Housing

CROUS: 150–600 €/month, no guarantor needed, apply Jan–May via DSE on messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr
Private: 400–1,500+ €/month, requires guarantor (or Visale/Garantme), year-round availability

Getting a guarantor

Visale: free rental guarantee for students under 30, no income conditions — apply on visale.fr before signing the lease
Garantme: paid private guarantee (3.5% of rent/month) if Visale is refused by the landlord

Housing benefits

APL (conventioned housing) or ALS (private) from 80–250 €/month. Apply on caf.fr immediately after signing the lease — not retroactive.

Official Sources

Conseil expert

Request your Visale certificate on visale.fr before signing the lease — the landlord must also create their profile on the platform; do it together.

Conseil expert

Submit your APL/ALS application as soon as you sign the lease: the CAF does not pay retroactively, and the first payment arrives approximately 2 months after the application.

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Housing FAQ for International Students in France

Housing FAQ for International Students in France

CROUS vs Private Housing

Getting a guarantor

Housing benefits

Official Sources

Conseil expert

Conseil expert

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