Finding accommodation
Are you a student trying to find accommodation to follow your studies? Are you looking for help to pay your rent? Know that there are solutions adapted to your situation.
Are you looking for accommodation for your academic year or for a longer term? There are several rental and accommodation solutions, accessible according to your financial resources and preferences.
- Studapart Platform: Book your accommodation
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Are you looking for accommodation? Use our online housing platform. In partnership with Studapart, access hundreds of exclusive offers for periods of 1 to 24 months anywhere in France: studios, shared flats, homestays, etc. and benefit from personalised support throughout your rental!
STUDAPART
From the rental file to the reservation of the accommodation, all the procedures are carried out online. The rental file is simplified and in 100% digital format. You can also benefit from services after your booking, such as home insurance.
- Verified listings and secure payment: In order to validate your reservation, we invite you to make the online payment of the 1st month's rent as well as the reservation fee
- Simplified rental file & 100% online procedures: you can complete your online rental file with the documents of your guarantor and two mandatory documents: your proof of registration at the University and your identity document.
- No guarantor residing in France? Thanks to the Studapart Guarantee, we guarantee you for the entire duration of your rental! This guarantee has a cost of 4% of the rent amount * duration of the rental and is to be paid at the time of booking.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact them via online chat, contact@studapart.com
- Public University Housing
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There are public university housings, all managed by the CROUS (regional organisation for university students).
The CROUS of Nice has 13 of them in the department:
10 in Nice,
2 in Sophia Antipolis,
1 in Cannes.
Some of those offer accommodation of different sizes; from university rooms (9 m²) to studios (20 m² or 30 m²). All types of accommodation are furnished and equipped with an internet connection.
To apply for university accommodation, you must establish an online Student Social File (DSE) on the CROUS website.
The registration period runs from January 15 to May 31. However, a request for accommodation at the CROUS is also possible during the year. If you apply after May 31st, you will be placed on the waiting list. Every year, the CROUS of Nice faces a significant demand for housing and its capacity is limited. It is not possible to offer an accommodation to all students. Therefore, there cannot be a guarantee CROUS accommodation.
- Private University Housing
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You can choose to stay in a private university residence which is generally less economical than the university residences managed by the CROUS. It is possible to stay in a studio or a 2-room apartment ranging from 17 m² to 40 m². These residences are also furnished and offer various services.
QR code redirecting to private student housing available in Nice:
Please note: some housing requires the payment of an administrative fee when booking your accommodation. It is important to check and compare all the information on the websites of these housings. Sometimes these rental options last for 1 or 2 years (long-term housing), check under what conditions you can terminate the rental agreement in case you want to leave early.
- Private Residence
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For those who wish to find accommodation with a private landlord or a real estate agency, the CROUS offers an Internet portal "Lokaviz" offering housing ads of all types for students (CROUS residences, private accommodation, room with locals, etc.).
To consult the LOKAVIZ website: lokaviz.fr/rechercher-un-logement/nice-06
- Solidarity flatshares
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Living in a shared flat with other young people and building solidarity projects
The Association for the Student Foundation for the City (Afev), offers you low-rent flatshares for students and young people under 30 years old who want to invest in a more supportive neighborhood in Nice or Cannes. The rent is between 180 and 230 euros, before APL.
The principle is simple. You live in a shared flat in a working-class neighbourhood and you commit 5 hours a week to a solidarity project in your neighbourhood to : accompany a young person on his or her school career, participate in local life, carry out solidarity and conviviality actions in your neighbourhood, etc. Afev accompanies you to help you as best as possible to make this experience the most fulfilling.
More information: Colocation Solidaire | Kolocation à Projet Solidaire (KAPS) | Afev
- Intergenerational housing
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Associations that allow you to find housing in intergenerational tandem for a low price range:
Administrative Procedures
The search for accommodation is a period that requires a lot of investment and requires you to prepare your file and your solvency with landlords, aid and insurance organisations in advance.
- Documents to be prepared
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Landlords systematically require a series of documents such as:
Valid official identity document ;· Student card for the current year;
· The last three rent receipts for the previously occupied apartment;
The certificate of a guarantor (most landlords require the commitment of a guarantor if the tenant does not comply with his obligations.
If you are under 30 years old and your monthly rent is equal to or less than €1300 (including charges), the Visale system (link: https://www.visale.fr/ ) can act as a guarantor to simplify the search for accommodation.
CAREFUL! Some offers may turn out to be fraud, so be vigilant and avoid at all costs to:
o Communicate personal or banking information before signing the contract,
o Continue the process if the owner is or claims to be currently abroad.
- Home insurance
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You will need to have a home insurance because it is a legal obligation in France. It will cover your home in the event of theft, water damage, among others. Most insurance companies offer different rates depending on the size of the apartment and the type of coverage you choose (≈ €37/year for a bedroom and ≈ €60/year for a studio). Do not hesitate to compare different insurances to find the most interesting price.
Most banks also offer rental insurance. Do not hesitate to ask your bank for more information.
- Civil liability
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Civil liability corresponds to the obligation to compensate for bodily injury and property damage caused to others. If you are doing an internship, you must take out civil liability insurance. The insurance company then covers the damage you have caused.
Sometimes, home insurance and civil liability are offered as a package. Check with your bank.
- Housing benefits
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The French government offers housing assistance services for all individuals living in France. The aid is provided by the Family Allowances Fund (CAF) and varies according to the applicant's financial situation, the accommodation in which he or she lives and the composition of his or her family.
The various aids are given according to the applicant's situation and are therefore not cumulative. The CAF also sets up a calculation module to assess the amount of aid that can be given to the applicant.
The application for housing assistance must be made as soon as you arrive at the accommodation because it is only at the time of its allocation that the aid can be paid.
The investment and collaboration between Université Côte d'Azur and Studapart were particularly appreciated by the student population in 2023.
3599 users accessed the platform (vs 2099 in 2022), with 2815 new registrants (+71% vs 2022), of which 927 are international students( (+93% vs 2022).
Faced with an increasingly small market and a high cost of living in the city, Studapart's commitments (negotiation of the best rates, support for foreign students who do not have a guarantor in France, clarification of cancellation conditions) make it a crucial partner in the context of housing assistance for our students.
- Personalised Housing Assistance (APL)
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The APL is awarded to people with "APL" subsidised housing, i.e. the landlord has fulfilled an agreement with the French State to, among other things, respect a defined rent level. In return, the owner benefits from financial advantages...
- The Family Housing Allowance (ALF)
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This allowance is awarded to people whose housing is not approved by the APL and who have children (born or to be born) and who were married less than five years ago (before the age of 40 of both spouses).
- The Social Housing Allowance (ALS)
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This allowance is awarded to people who are not eligible for either the APL or the ALF. The amount awarded (generally lower than that of APL and ALF) is calculated according to the financial situation, family and the geographical area where the property is located.
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FAQ
- What is a guarantor?
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The guarantor is usually someone close to you (family or friend). He or she undertakes to pay for you if you are unable to pay your rent, damages, charges, etc. This person must have a fixed income and a stable financial situation.
- Is it possible to have a guarantor outside France?
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Yes, a foreign student can have a guarantor who resides outside France. However, it is important to note that some landlords may be reluctant to accept a foreign guarantor due to the potential difficulties in asserting their rights in the event of non-payment of rent
To get around this problem, several solutions exist: VISALE: A free scheme offered by the French State that acts as a guarantor for students, including foreign students.
- Is it mandatory to have home insurance?
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Yes, in France, the law requires tenants to take out home insurance to cover possible damage to the property during the rental period.
Most insurance companies or banks offer rates that are suitable for students. It is recommended to make simulations and compare prices and packages.
- Can international students apply to have a room with the CROUS?
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Yes, it is possible unless you are doing a mobility as part of an exchange programme.
Please note that obtaining a CROUS accommodation is not guaranteed.
To request a room from the CROUS, you must create an online Student Social File (DSE) on the CROUS website. If you are not eligible for a DSE, you will have to wait until the complementary phase to be able to apply. This phase usually takes place in mid-July.
- Can international students get a CROUS scholarship?
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International students can obtain a scholarship under certain conditions:
· EU students: have worked in France, or a parent/guardian has received income in France, or have been in France for one year.
· Other nationalities: refugee status or subsidiary protection by Ofpra, or holder of a residence permit and domicile in France for at least 2 years with a tax household in France for 2 years.
For more details, please consult the specific criteria on the CROUS website: CROUS Nice.
- Is it necessary to have a French social security number to start the procedures with the CAF?
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No, if you do not have a social security number, the CAF will assign you a provisional number.