With exam results in and summer vacation preparations in full swing, many students also have to start looking for accommodation for the next academic year.
Whether it's to continue their studies in another city or country, or simply to start their adult life, finding a place to live, study, or work is a delicate operation that requires method, diligence, and a certain amount of luck.
Many questions then arise... What are the different solutions available? What financial aid am I eligible for? What strategies should I put in place to manage my daily life and the unexpected? What should I do in the event of an accident?
University room, rental or shared accommodation?
If you are going to another city to study, and your budget is very limited, you can apply for accommodation in a university residence or, if you are going abroad, apply for a place on a university campus. This is, by far, the least expensive solution but also the most difficult and the one that requires the longest processing time. The application must be submitted between mid-January and the end of April to the CNOUS (National Center for University and School Works), it is reserved for students whose parents have low incomes (usually those eligible for scholarships). If you are lucky enough to be accepted, you will have a room or an equipped studio of varying size (between 9 and 20 m2) near a university.
Second solution: renting or sharing an apartment is generally less expensive because the expenses are then shared between all the tenants. There are many websites specializing in student shared accommodation.
Sharing an apartment can be a very advantageous and pleasant solution, especially if you don't like being alone, but be careful to clearly establish the operating rules of the shared accommodation from the start and ensure that everyone follows these rules. This is a solution that generally allows for a slightly larger living space. In addition to the bedroom, which can be up to 20 m2, the student also has common areas (kitchen, bathroom, and living room) that allow them to feel less cramped than in a room. The average rent for a shared apartment varies greatly depending on the neighborhood and the city (between 200 and 600 euros).
If you prefer to be alone, you can choose to rent a studio but the price will often be much higher (between 500 and 1000 euros) and you will have a much smaller space but this solution may suit someone who needs solitude to be able to concentrate better or someone who wants to apply their own rules of life.
All the financial housing assistance you are entitled to
There are many financial aid programs available to help students or young professionals set up on their own.
The CAF (Family Allowance Fund) offers financial assistance for housing in several forms: APL (Affordable Housing Allowance) for subsidized housing or ALS (Affordable Housing Allowance) for university housing. The amount of this financial assistance varies but remains proportional to the amount of rent.
The CLE (student rental deposit) scheme: since the start of the 2014 academic year, the State has offered students and young workers who are unable to benefit from a parental guarantee a guarantee that allows them to access housing more easily. The guarantee is personal, and in the case of shared accommodation, each person must submit a nominative application. This guarantee allows landlords to be compensated in the event of default by the student or young person.
The Youth Mobility Grant is a subsidy of between €10 and €100 per month. It can be obtained for any type of housing and is intended for all young people under 30 years of age in vocational training. The application must be submitted to the company that hired the young person.
The loca-pass is a free and immediate housing deposit advance that allows young people to avoid having to pay a very large sum (usually corresponding to two months' rent). This advance is free and without application fees, the young person is obliged to repay it within a maximum period of 36 months, it is granted to anyone who requests it.
Daily management, daily accidents
Once you are settled in your accommodation, you will have to learn to manage daily life and everyday accidents which until now were largely managed by your parents. You will have to learn to manage your budget, do the shopping, the cleaning, the laundry, pay your electricity, internet, telephone bills etc…
All these new obligations can be scary and overwhelming for the novice tenant, which is why it is better to organize yourself, and keep a diary and not be too flexible with it. If you have opted for a university residence rental, the charges (electricity, cleaning, laundry) are generally included in the rent but if you are renting or sharing you will have to stick to it. If you are renting, it will be up to you to keep this diary up to date, if you are sharing, you will have to agree on the date for collecting the contributions and on the payment to the different suppliers. You can also divide up the various tasks, but schedule a monthly meeting to review these obligations and ensure they have been fulfilled.
In the event of a breakdown, breakage, or any other malfunction, you must have taken out insurance or define a strategy together to avoid disrupting the smooth running of your shared accommodation. For cleaning and laundry, you will also need to establish a schedule and ensure that all the co-tenants follow it, otherwise you risk many disappointments.
