University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) > Daily life > Accomodation
Your accomodation - useful advice
House insurance
According to the french laws, all tenants have to subscribe to a house insurance. The type of covered risks has to be mentionned on the insurance certificate (fire and water damages...). Before the inventoryof fixtures is done, the insurance certificate has to be provided to the landlord as the keys are given. Please note that the landlord has the right to cancel the lease if house insurance has not been taken.
Maintenace charges
These taxes and expenses that the landlord passes on to the tenant: electricity, water, heating…
Before signing the contract, remember to check that the water and heating are included in the overall charges, if not, you will have to pay these charges adding to the rent.
The deposit
Before moving in, you will pay a deposit to cover non payment of rent and charges but also to cover expenses required for repairing the accommodation at the end of the lease. The deposit amount cannot be higher than one month rent (excluding charges) and does not exist when the rent is payable in advance over a period of more than two months. This amount must be returned to you at the latest 2 months after the keys have been given back to the owner.
Guarantee
The landlord has the right to request a personal guarantee: someone well known to you (e.g. a family member) undertakes, in writing, to pay rent on your behalf if you are unable to.
Estate agency fees
If you rent your house through an estate agency, you will have to pay fees which usually are to 15% of the annual rent (charges excluded).
According to the french laws, all tenants have to subscribe to a house insurance. The type of covered risks has to be mentionned on the insurance certificate (fire and water damages...). Before the inventoryof fixtures is done, the insurance certificate has to be provided to the landlord as the keys are given. Please note that the landlord has the right to cancel the lease if house insurance has not been taken.
Maintenace charges
These taxes and expenses that the landlord passes on to the tenant: electricity, water, heating…
Before signing the contract, remember to check that the water and heating are included in the overall charges, if not, you will have to pay these charges adding to the rent.
The deposit
Before moving in, you will pay a deposit to cover non payment of rent and charges but also to cover expenses required for repairing the accommodation at the end of the lease. The deposit amount cannot be higher than one month rent (excluding charges) and does not exist when the rent is payable in advance over a period of more than two months. This amount must be returned to you at the latest 2 months after the keys have been given back to the owner.
Guarantee
The landlord has the right to request a personal guarantee: someone well known to you (e.g. a family member) undertakes, in writing, to pay rent on your behalf if you are unable to.
Estate agency fees
If you rent your house through an estate agency, you will have to pay fees which usually are to 15% of the annual rent (charges excluded).
Date of update March 16, 2011
