How to choose the right student accomodation?

How to choose your student accommodation? What criteria? For what rent? Should you opt for a shared apartment, a room with the inhabitant or a student residence?

 

How to choose your student accommodation?

 

Finding student accommodation is one thing. Choosing the right one is another. Have you defined which criteria to put forward in your search? The financial aspect is important, but you also have to think about the type of accommodation (studio? Apartment? Bedroom?) And its location (think about the distance). There are no ready-made answers. You know what you want. But as they say, you have to know how to ask the right questions.

 

What budget for a student rental?

 

The first criterion in choosing student accommodation is the cost of rent. It is important that you define how much you are able to spend each month on your rental. This will be done according to your means and your possible income. And what is agreed with the guarantors.

 

In France, the average rent for a student rental is € 600 per month. There are of course great disparities depending on the city where you settle. In Paris, a studio can be rented for over € 800 while the equivalent is € 500 in the provinces. The national average observed for a student room (14m2) is around € 400 while for a T1 of 30m2, it takes € 500, then more than 600 for a T2 of more than 40m2.

 

Please note, the rent is not the only cost. You must take into account ancillary expenses: charges, insurance, electricity, internet...

 

• Rental charges: They can be integrated into the rent, or be paid separately. It’s to do with the owner. These charges can be up to € 50,
• Home insurance. To do with an insurer or a bank. It goes up to around 100 € per year, so you can count 10 € per month,
• Electricity costs: These depend on the supplier, the size of the home and especially your own consumption. We recommend that you budget large: 50 € per month. Do not hesitate to do a little market research on the different offers.
• The cost of internet access: The issues are comparable to those of electricity. A little market research helps to select the most interesting offer. In the meantime, you can plan a large budget: 50 € per month.

 

In total, you can set a budget of € 200 for rental expenses in addition to the rent. Remember, you have to pay a security deposit when you settle in, which is usually equivalent to a month's rental. You also have to pay the real estate agency fees, which also represent one month's rent. And don't forget the moving costs!

 

Your budget must also take housing assistance into account. Have this reflex: in France, public services offer many aids to reduce the cost of housing and reduce budgets. The CAF site offers a simulator to calculate your APL.

 

What is the ideal location for student accommodation?

 

Cheap accommodation is cool, but it still has to be in a good location. Ideally, accommodation is preferred close to the establishment where the courses are taken. Physically close, that is to say that the school is at a distance that you can easily cover every day (on foot, by bike, by car ...). Or virtually close, with accommodation a little further away but with public transport that can take you from point A to point B without too many connections or risk of delay. A word of advice: find out about the timetables for buses, subways and trams. Usually one and the same company manages transport in every major city in France, and they all have a website, or even a mobile application.

 

We therefore recommend that as much as possible not to jump on the first apartment you find, only because it fits your budget. You have to “feel” the neighborhood where you will be staying for a few months and maybe a few years. Listen to your sensitivity, measure the practicalities, the proximity to shops, the tranquility of the building and the neighborhood. Or its bubbling.

 

What type of accommodation for a student?

 

The real estate market offers several types of rental for students. You can rent an apartment that will be occupied alone or shared with two or more people. You can also rent a room with the locals or occupy a room in a student residence. The choice is wide.

 

The studio

 

The most popular accommodation among students is the studio. Many individuals rent them out and it is relatively easy to find them on the internet. The studio allows you to benefit from a certain independence while remaining connected to the activities of the city. We find around 500 € per month on average. Of course, you have to count a few hundred euros more in Paris or Lyon.

 

 

The Flatshare

 

Shared accommodation between students has become a trend in recent years. Increasingly tight budgets encourage students to opt for this solution. In fact, it lacks charm and advantages: the distribution of expenses and household chores allows for a much more spacious interior than a studio. It saves you a few moments of solitude and allows you to share rich moments of community. This is a slightly more economical solution (about a hundred euros) than renting a studio alone.

 

The student residence

 

The room in a student residence is very popular because it allows you to maintain a… studious atmosphere at home. These are accommodations specifically designed for students. Rooms located in a building that offers various services so that you are not too cluttered with practical issues. This allows you to stay connected to student life.

 

There are two types of student residences: those offered by the CROUS and those in private residences. The CROUS offers the cheapest accommodation on the market in its university residences (around 20% to 40% lower). But they are also the most difficult to obtain. You can therefore apply for access to a university residence, but you must plan to look for a plan B at the same time.

 

Private student residences are owned by individuals. Generally quite close to high schools and universities, these accommodations are comparable to the university residences of the CROUS. Services may be better - there is often parking (cars and bicycles), laundry facilities, a gym - but rents are high. These are the most expensive in the student life real estate market.

 

The room at the inhabitant

 

 A student's needs often boil down to a place to sleep and work in peace. A bed, a desk, a storage cabinet may ultimately suffice. This is why homestay accommodation is a popular option for students. You will find there a “second family” with whom to share meals, household chores, and why not TV evenings. Foreign students particularly appreciate this solution because it gives the possibility of living “à la Française” on a daily basis.

 

This is the most economical solution for a student. The cost can even decrease if you offer services to the host: for example childcare, homework help, private lessons, but also shopping. We can imagine several solutions: either an amount paid by the host for each service, or a reduction in the monthly payment. It’s to do with the family that welcomes you.

 

 

Should you visit accommodation beforehand?

 

A few years ago, you would have been advised to visit your future accommodation before making the decision to rent it. Today, more and more online booking sites offer a virtual tour or videos. You can happily stroll through each room of the apartment from your sofa. Convenient, isn't it?

 

The system is well done since the sites have developed guarantees if the accommodation does not conform to the videos or photos. This is the case with Studapart!

 

For those who can visit, it is always pleasant to accompany the virtual visit with a physical visit.

 

By going to your future accommodation, you will have additional information on its accessibility, its exterior setting, its atmosphere, things that are less obvious in virtual tours.

 

Visiting any accommodation (studio, student residence, homestay or shared room) also allows you to meet the owner (or at least his representative) and discuss upstream the possibility of paying such or such. such detail, what elements to bring to the rental file, etc.

 

You now have all the elements to find your future accommodation.