Julie K. Says:
We’re planning to rent an apartment for six months in Paris. Do you have any advice?
IL France Correspondent Tuula Rampont Says:
Hi Julie,
Finding an apartment in Paris can be a daunting task, but the advent of short- and mid-term rentals, plus the wide reach of the internet, has made this much easier to do. You’ll generally find these apartments through management companies, most with websites giving full details of what they offer.
If you can’t read French and you want to ensure that the apartments are up to American standards, then search only for the websites that are in English and have U.S. business addresses or telephone numbers. The U.S. address does not necessarily mean they don’t have Paris-based staff—in fact, they almost always do, and they will speak English.
Unless you’re planning to relocate to Paris for at least two years, it’s probably better to rent furnished (meublé). Equipping a home can be expensive. While non-meublé or vide theoretically means only “unfurnished,” in practice it often means “completely unfitted.” When they move, former tenants often take everything but the kitchen sink, which, of course, is how the apartment may have been when they rented it.
This is beginning to change, however, with the advent of open, modular kitchens. Tenants increasingly tend to leave all appliances in place.
The furnished rental market is not as small as it once was. The majority of apartments available for short- and long-term rental up to one year are furnished, even if minimally. According to estimates, there are almost 40,000 furnished apartments in the city of Paris.
As usual, much depends on location and amenities. Rents in the Marais (on the Right Bank) and the Left Bank’s 6th and 7th arrondissements can be most expensive. Larger apartments in these neighborhoods can command monthly rents upward of $15,000 if they’re luxurious and have special features.
If you rent directly from an individual, you don’t have to pay an agent’s commission. Most agencies charge a fee of up to a month’s rent on longer leases.
However, it’s worth paying the agency fee for peace of mind. Some foreigners have seen billboard advertisements and paid substantial sums in advance rent. They then make the awful discovery that the apartment’s real owners were away on vacation and that they’ve fallen victim to a con artist. Be wary.
I would recommend picking up a copy of Escape to France, IL’s comprehensive guidebook. Chapter 2 features a detailed guide to renting in Paris, along with recommendations of trusted agencies. Order it on the IL bookstore here.
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