Once you’ve secured admission to a university in France comes one of the most important steps in preparing for your new life abroad: finding a place to live. But before you can move into that cozy studio in Lyon or share a flat in Paris, there’s one essential task to tackle: preparing your rental application (dossier de location).
In France, landlords (propriétaires) are known to be very cautious about who they rent to. Your rental dossier serves as your “tenant ID card” and helps reassure them of your reliability, especially your ability to pay rent on time. Here’s everything you need to know to build a complete and compelling dossier and make your housing search smoother.
📁 What is a Rental Dossier?
A rental dossier is a set of documents you submit when applying to rent a room, studio, or apartment. It shows the landlord that you’re serious, responsible, and financially stable. The stronger your dossier, the better your chances, especially in high-demand cities like Paris, Bordeaux, or Toulouse.
📌 Must-Have Documents in Your Dossier
As an international student, you’ll typically need to include the following documents:
- ✅ Personal information sheet: This outlines your name, contact details, student status, and the duration of your stay.
- 🪪 Copy of your passport and visa (if you already have it).
- 🎓 Proof of enrolment: Student card, certificate of admission, or school registration letter.
- 📄 Internship, apprenticeship, or job contract, if applicable.
If you’re using a platform like Studapart, you can upload your documents once and use the same dossier to apply to multiple listings — saving you time and effort! Check out our list of recommended student accommodation platforms here.
🛡️ What’s a Garant and Why You Need One
In France, landlords often require a garant — someone who agrees to cover your rent if you can’t pay. This is especially important if you don’t yet have a job or stable income in France.
Your guarantor can be:
- A parent, relative, or trusted friend (with proof of income and legal residence in the EU)
- An organisation or service that acts as your guarantor
Your guarantor will need to provide:
- 🪪 Copy of their ID
- 🏠 Proof of residence
- 📃 Employment contract (mentioning contract type and salary)
- 💰 Last 3 payslips or pension documents
- 🧾 Latest tax return notice
- 📑 Property tax or rent receipts, and if self-employed: recent K-bis and annual accounts
💡 Tip: Ideally, your guarantor should earn at least 3 times your monthly rent.
You don’t have to lose hope if you don’t have a physical guarantor in France.
If your parents live abroad or you’re unable to find a suitable guarantor, several services can help you:
- ✅ Visale (by Action Logement): A free public guarantee service for students and young professionals. It’s widely accepted and trusted by landlords. You can apply online before even arriving in France: visale.fr.
- 🛡️ GarantMe: A private service that acts as a guarantor for a fee. GarantMe partners with many landlords and housing platforms and is known for its fast, student-friendly process. More info at garantme.fr.
- 💬 Studapart also offers a Profil Garanti, which allows you to rent even without a traditional guarantor.
🚫 What Landlords Can’t Ask For
To protect your privacy, French rental law limits what documents a landlord can request. They cannot ask for:
- Your bank account statements or authorization for direct debit
- Medical records, police background checks, or marriage certificates
- More than two years’ worth of financial documents (especially if you’re self-employed)
Use official tools like DossierFacile to make sure your application meets all requirements and respects your rights.
🏃♀️ Start Early and Be Strategic
As soon as you’ve confirmed your city of study, start your housing search. The earlier you begin, the more choices you’ll have — especially if you’re arriving in August or September, when demand peaks.
Use our guide to student accomodation platforms to find verified listings with trusted landlords, and many allow you to reserve your apartment online, even before you land in France — no in-person visits required!
🏠 What to Check During a Housing Visit
If you do get the chance to visit a property in person (or virtually), come prepared! Bring a printed copy of your complete dossier to submit on the spot.
During the visit, check:
- 🌫️ Humidity and mould around windows and bathrooms
- 🪟 Window insulation: is there double glazing?
- 🔌 Functioning appliances: test radiators, taps, and outlets
- 🌐 Internet speed: check provider coverage in the area
- 🚇 Public transport access and walking distance to essential services
Ask the landlord about average utility bills and neighbourhood noise levels. Trust your instincts about the area — this will be your home for months or years!
📝 Before You Sign the Lease
If you’ve found the perfect place and your application is accepted, great! But before signing the lease (bail), make sure it includes:
- The landlord and tenant names
- Start date and duration of the lease
- Exact address and details of the property
- Monthly rent, security deposit, and payment method
- Work or repairs done since the last tenant
🛠️ A full check-in inspection (état des lieux) must be done to document the condition of the space. You have 10 days after moving in to report any overlooked issues.
📎 Required Annexes to the Lease
By law, your landlord must also give you:
- A diagnostic report: energy performance, gas/electric safety, lead risk, etc.
- Info on TV/internet access
- Building rules (for shared buildings)
- A guide to tenant rights and responsibilities
If you used a real estate agency, the only fees you should pay are for the visit, dossier processing, lease drafting, and check-in. No “reservation fee” is allowed before signing.
Navigating the French rental system can be overwhelming, especially when you’re doing it from abroad. But with a well-prepared dossier and a trusted platform, you can secure your new home with confidence. So start early, stay organised, and don’t forget to ask for help, whether from your school, a housing platform, or the Ask Sétu community.
Bienvenue en France — your student journey is just beginning!
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