Housing

Moving (déménagement)

Over the course of the last decade, nearly one out of two individuals in France changed residence. Moving and relocating companies offer a number of solutions for moving a household. While moving companies focus mainly on the physical aspects of a change of abode, relocation companies offer a variety of comprehensive services that range from arranging housing, vehicle registration, and immigration formalities to setting up utilities and school enrollment. Names of companies proposing moving and related services may be found in national and local news publications, housing journals, the pages jaunes (yellow pages), and online.

Yellow Pages 

Customs (douanes)

No matter how possessions are moved, a declaration of their status must be made to the douane. The procedure also involves the signing of a document affirming that all items are personal possessions and will not be resold following their entry in France. Some items are subject to specific regulations, for example: vehicles must have been purchased more than six months prior to the move. The French Embassy within the country from which you plan to move will be able to assist you in determining the exact customs requirements.

Ministry of Finance - Customs [fr] 

French Embassy in the US - Customs 

Utilities

Electricity, gas and the telephone involve individual contracts. All utilities must be activated or installed when moving into a new place of residence and discontinued upon departure. Telephone lines are under the control of France Telecom, thus all local phone calls pass through this company.

Electricité de France 

Gaz de France 

France Telecom 

Mail (courrier)

The postal service in France is known as La Poste. When moving, mail should be forwarded to your new address. This may be done free of charge by having your concierge or a neighbor place your envelopes in an enveloppe de réexpédition, which is obtained from La Poste. You may also pay a fee and sign an ordre de réexpédition and La Poste will forward your mail directly. Any change of address should be provided as quickly as possible to the Préfecture, the social security office, all institutions with which you have a contract for services, and other parties you receive mail contact from.

La Poste 

Housing (logement)

The year 2001 saw an increasing number of French people living in single family houses - from 42% at the most in 1992 to 56%. Nine percent of all residences are secondary residences, often kept for vacations and long weekends. In recent years, the population as a whole tended to shift towards more rural areas.

No matter where a person chooses to locate in France, the option to rent, lease, or buy a residence is available through a variety of sources. Prices in cities and larger towns are usually based upon the number of square meters or the number of pièces (rooms) contained within a residence. The majority of apartments available for rent and for lease are unfurnished.

Real Estate Agency (agence immobilière)

One of the most common methods of searching for housing is through real estate agencies which are present in nearly every town . Such agencies act as the intermediary between the locataire (tenant) and the propriétaire (landlord). In general, the locataire pays the fee for the agency's services. Renting directly from the propriétaire eliminates these fees, but leaves the locataire responsible for ensuring that legal formalities are correctly completed.

Advertisements (offres)

A number of publications, both national and local, print a special immobilier section. Some publications, for example De Particulier à Particulier and the FUSAC, concentrate solely on immobilier and include a section of rental properties. Advertisements placed by a particulier indicate that the tenant will deal directly with the landlord. When using print media to seek an apartment, it is best to obtain a copy as soon as it is released and to contact all prospects immediately.

Insurance (assurance)

All tenants are required to possess a comprehensive insurance policy, known as assurance multirisque habitation. This policy insures renters again fire, water, ice and storm damage, as well as accidents involving family members and a third party. Although assurance multirisque habitation insures against theft, security locks on doors and window shutters are required to qualify for reimbursement.

Additional insurance, known as vol complémentaire, may be purchased to cover valuable possessions. It is wise to keep receipts of these items to prove their existence in the event a claim needs to be made.