Housing

ACCOMMODATION GENERAL INFORMATION

As it is not easy to rent an accommodation in France for an international student, EDHEC developed close collaborations with local housing actors.

Indeed most of the Real Estate agencies, student residences and private owners require a French guarantor.

Different options are available in Lille & in Nice (student residences, private flats, rooms at private landlords’, shared housing…).

Deposit

To rent an accommodation in France, it is required to pay a deposit before arrival - usually equivalent to one month rent (2 months maximum). The money of the deposit will be kept by the landlord during your contract.

A part of the deposit can be used by the owner if he notices damages in the accommodation at the checkout appointment.

According to the French law the owner has two months to return the deposit onto the student’s bank account.

Check-in appointment

As soon as your booking is confirmed, you have to organize a check-in appointment with the student residence Manager or your landlord.

The day you will get the key, you will do a check-in inventory with the landlord or residence manager in order to report existing defects (marks on the wall, broken tiles, heater out of order, leaks...).

After the check-in inventory, you still have 7 days to inform the landlord in case you notice any further defects that had not been reported in the inventory.

Notice of departure / Check-out appointment

You must notice the landlord about your departure date at least a month before leaving. This notice has to be sent by registered mail.

A check-out appointment will have to be organized the very last day of your stay to return the key.

During this check-out appointment the landlord will compare the state of the accommodation with the check-in inventory document.

Tips and guidance about your accommodation in France

• The rent has to be paid between the 1st and the 5th of each month
• The deposit cannot be used to pay the last month rent.
• If you break an item or an equipment in the accommodation, try to replace it
• Be sensible regarding electricity and water uses (no heating on if the window is open, turn the light off when you leave the room…)
• If you leave in a student residence or a private flat, make sure you ask the landlord which day the garbage is collected (usually once a week).

WARNING

When booking an accommodation online by yourself:

• Never send cash money orders to book your accommodation. This mean of payment is not secured and is used for frauds (fake landlords and offers). We recommend you to wire money onto the landlord’s bank account to confirm your booking.
• Pay attention to the date the offer was published to avoid out-of-date ads.
• Be aware: if you book your accommodation through websites such as Airbnb, you must make sure that the landlord accepts to provide you with an official housing proof, otherwise:      
• your visa will not be validated by the immigration office          
• you will not be able to open a French bank account
• consequently, you will not be eligible for housing allowance