Housing

Housing

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Finding housing in France can be difficult.

Here are our tips and resources to help you with your research in Caen and at remote campuses.

Housing types

The Crous Normandie is responsible for allocating and managing housing in university residence halls. These units have the advantage of being furnished and equipped, and are offered at reasonable prices. They are located near the campuses and are accessible by public transportation.

More information Crous residences

First application

The first applications for CROUS housing can be submitted on the https://trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr/ platform, subject to availability. Visit the CROUS website to find out when the application period opens.

If your application is approved, you will need to confirm your reservation by paying a rent deposit via messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr > “Manage Your Housing” section > “Cité’U.” If your application is denied, feel free to check the website regularly to see what housing is available and submit a new application.

Renewal

If you already have housing through the CROUS and would like to keep it, you must submit your renewal request in the spring at messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr > “Manage Your Housing” section > “Cité’U”

CROUS housing is allocated primarily to students receiving financial aid. Only a few rooms are available to first-time international students starting in September/October.

Some remote campuses do not offer CROUS housing.

Many student housing options are available in Caen, located near the various campuses. They offer housing with a variety of services, exclusively for students:

You can also find flats and rooms to rent through private adverts or via an estate agent.

Websites

Mobile apps

In a shared flat, a single flat is rented by several tenants, which helps to reduce the cost of rent. Here are a few websites for flat-sharing adverts:

To experience Norman culture and interact with locals in their everyday lives, look for a room to rent with a local family:

Association LIEN – UNICAEN Partner

You have a caring nature and would like to live with someone else? Get in touch with the charity, which offers you low-cost accommodation with a senior citizen in exchange for your company and shared moments : associationlien.fr

CCAS Ville de Caen

CCAS Ville de Caen offers shared accommodation based on mutual support in several retirement homes. Check availability and apply at caen.fr/vie-etudiante

AFEV

Spend 3 to 5 hours a week volunteering for a local charity and live in a “Solidarity Project Flat Share” (KAPS) with other student volunteers : afev.org

When you arrive at UNICAEN, you may need temporary accommodation whilst you wait to move into your permanent home.

Hostel:

Hotels & short-term private rentals:

Many platforms offer hotel rooms or short-term private accommodation, including :

Each site offers private accommodation, some of which is approved by the Crous.

Please feel free to get in touch with local university representatives (such as the Cherbourg Student Centre), who are familiar with the accommodation options in the area and will be able to offer you some useful advice.

Housing assistance

    Rental guarantee

    To rent an accommodation in France, you will be asked to provide proof of a security deposit. This is to give the landlord assurance that your rent will continue to be paid if you are no longer able to do so yourself. Although it is not compulsory, it is rare to find landlords or letting agencies that do not require a security deposit.

    You have several options:

    Third-Party Guarantee

    The third-party guarantor is a physical person, French or European resident, who will co-sign the rental contract with you and will be held accountable for your rent if you face financial difficulties

    Visale Guarantee

    Visale is a governmental rent guarantee system. It is completely free and open to all students between 18 and 30 years old who are looking for housing in the private or public rental sector. As with housing, this process must be done on the Internet and can therefore be anticipated from your country of origin.

    Unlike the CROUS, private landlords are not required to accept the Visale as a rental guarantee. Before applying for Visale online, talk to your landlord (residence manager, homeowner, rental agency …) to find out if they accept this type of guarantee.

    Private Guarantee Companies

    Other private organizations offer guarantee packages:

    Be sure to check with your landlord to make sure they accept this guarantee system.

    CAF rental benefits

    In France, your student status gives you access to specific social benefits, including the CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales) housing benefits. This financial aid is given directly to the landlords and deducted from your monthly rent.

    Once you have signed your rental agreement, you must create your personal CAF account on the CAF website.

    Access the CAF website (FR)

    At the beginning of the academic year, most university residences assist students with their CAF online application.

    Maison de l’Habitat

    UNICAEN Partner

    The “Maison de l’Habitat” offers free advice on housing and home-related issues

    Contact them for help with renting a flat or a student room in Caen:

    On site : 16, rue Rosa Parks – 14000 Caen

    E-mail : maison.habitat@caenlamer.fr

    Phone : +33 (0)2 31 38 31 38

    CRIJ

    UNICAEN Partner

    The CRIJ is a comprehensive resource centre that welcomes and provides information to young people free of charge.

    Whether you’re looking for accommodation, trying to find financial support and contacts to help you find a place to live, or seeking answers to any questions you may have, take a look at the CRIJ guide ‘Finding a flat: a guide for young tenants’ (in French).

    If, despite your own active efforts, you are having difficulty finding accommodation, you can contact the Welcome Desk : intl.welcome@unicaen.fr

    Additional information

    In France, renting a home is regulated by law, with a set of rules that apply to the renter, the owner, the deposit (“caution”) and, if applicable, the guarantor (“garant“ in French)

    Mandatory Home Insurance

    No matter which type of accommodation you will choose, you will have to subscribe to two mandatory insurance policies:

    • Home insurance
    • Personal liability

    Housing insurance covers damages made to your habitation and goods, in case for instance of a fire, water damages or robbery.

    Personal liability covers physical and/or psychological injuries you may cause to a third party if you are held responsible, for instance, for a fire or water damage in your place of residence.

    A proof of home insurance with personal liability will be required when signing your rental agreement. Failure to present these documents will result in termination of your tenancy agreement, even for CROUS housing.

    Most insurance companies provide home insurance with personal liability coverage for approximately €60 per year. 

    Find the home insurance that fits your needs by using online comparators:

    The housing application

    Before accepting your housing application, the landlord will review your file to see if you are a reliable candidate and to ensure that you are able to pay your rent during the term of the lease.

    Rental application documents

    Tenant’s DocumentsGuarantor’s Documents
    Valid identity documentValid identity document
    Proof of residenceProof of address (in France)
    Student card or registration certificate for the current yearProof of employment status
    Proof of income: your guarantor’s income will be used as proof of income. However, you can also attach your employment contract and your last three pay slips (if applicable) and/or scholarship certificate (for scholarship holders).Proof of income: to be considered acceptable, your guarantor must have a monthly income equal to at least 3 times the rent.

    Find more information about the required documents on the Service public website.

    Even with a complete file, the landlord is free to refuse your application without having to justify his refusal.
    Most landlords are reluctant to rent their properties to people whose guarantor works and lives abroad.

    And what happens afterward?

    If your application is accepted by the landlord, you and your guarantor will be asked to sign a lease or rental agreement.
    When you sign the lease, you will have to pay your deposit. This deposit allows you to secure the accommodation.

    Home insurance is mandatory and will be requested when you receive the keys.

    The tenancy agreement

    Every rental must be covered by a tenancy agreement. This contract lists the rights and obligations of the owner and the tenant. It must contain the following elements: name and address of the owner, name(s) of the tenant(s), effective date and duration of the rental, characteristics of the property, amount of rent and charges, and terms for renewal or termination of the rental.

    Find more information about the tenancy agreements on the Service public website.

    Without this contract, your tenancy is not considered legal, and you cannot receive housing benefit.

    The deposit

    The deposit is a sum paid by the tenant to the owner at the time of signing the contract to cover possible risks related to the rental: unpaid rents or other costs, rental repairs in case of material damage caused by the tenant, etc.

    The amount, the payment and the recovery of the deposit are strictly defined by law. These terms must also be included in the rental contract :

    • Furnished rental: the security deposit cannot exceed 2 months’ rent excluding charges
    • Unfurnished rental: the security deposit cannot exceed 1 month’s rent excluding charges
    • Return of the security deposit: 2 months from the date of handing over the keys, or 1 month if no damage is noted in the inventory of fixtures at the end of the rental period (longer periods for the CROUS). Do not close your French bank account before the deposit is returned !

    The owner may decide to keep all or part of the deposit if the inventory of fixtures is not in order or if there are payment arrears. This retention must be justified by official documents.

    Find more information about the security deposit on the Service public website.

    Rent payment

    The tenant is required to pay the monthly rent (including utilities) by a date specified in the tenancy agreement.

    The law provides that the tenant may pay the rent by any means (check, bank transfer or cash). However, in practice, payment in cash is sometimes refused and it is better to discuss this with the landlord or the rental agency beforehand.

    In case of full payment of the rent, the tenant can ask the landlord to send him a rent receipt free of charge.

    Find more information about the rental payment on the Service public website.

    Departure

    Leaving your accommodation before the date specified in your tenancy agreement

    You must inform your landlord of your departure date by sending a certified letter with acknowledgement of receipt or a hand-delivered letter in exchange for a receipt: this is called the “préavis” (notice)

    This notice must be given 1 month before the date of departure for furnished accommodation and 3 months before for unfurnished accommodation. Even if you leave before the notice date, and if there is no new tenant, you must continue to pay your rent.

    At the end of your notice period, you will have to check and hand in the inventory, hand over the keys to the owners, and get back your deposit within 1 month (except for CROUS where periods of time can be longer).

    Find more information on the Service public website.

    Subtletting

    Subletting is the action of allowing someone to rent all or a part of the accommodation that you are renting from someone else.

    In the private rental sector, this practice is authorized on the condition that the tenant obtains the owner’s agreement before subletting.

    The amount of rent requested by the subletting tenant cannot be higher than the one paid by that tenant to the owner.
    It is recommended to draw up a sublease contract that will allow the sub-renter to benefit from CAF housing assistance.

    At the CROUS and in private residences, subletting is strictly forbidden and is punished by the immediate expulsion of the tenant from the accommodation.

    Find more information about subletting on the Service public website.

    Housing tax

    In France, housing tax (taxe d’habitation) is a tax that applies to every person (owner, tenant or free occupant) who occupies a property. It is paid by the person occupying the property on January 1st of the tax year. The housing tax must be paid before November 15 of the year.

    A foreign student occupying a dwelling in France on January 1st will have to pay housing taxes, except if he/she lives in a dwelling belonging to a student residence or a furnished room rented by an owner. If he/she arrives in France after January 1st, the student can be exempted from the contribution.

    How to be exempted from the housing tax? It can be very expensive (more than one month’s rent!). To be exempted, we advise you to file a tax return with your local tax office.

    Address modification

    When you move in, don’t forget to put your name on your mailbox. Without it, you may not receive your mail.

    When you move out (or if you are going to be away for a long time), give your new address to state agencies and other organizations that may send you mail.

    A website offers a simplified procedure for notifying your new address to most government agencies (EXCEPT the Préfecture): https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R11193

    To be sure to continue to receive your mail, you can also opt for the mail redirection (paying service) proposed by La Poste.