The apartment viewing in France is an ideal opportunity for you to confirm that the apartment meets your standards and for the landlord or agency to determine whether you will be a suitable tenant.
- Before you begin your search for a French apartment, choose the region where you wish to rent. Ideally, you should visit the location multiple times, for instance, during different times of the day.
- Decide on the type of apartment you want to rent.
- Determine your budget and your rent limit.
- Create a list of what you would like your perfect apartment to have; include must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breakers.
- Find out everything each tenant needs to know about renting a property in France.
Before entering the apartment, check IF…
1. Is parking included in the rent? If so, be sure to check it out. If not, what are the closest options, and how much will they cost?
2. Which direction is the property facing? Although this is a crucial point, it might easily slip your mind when attempting to take in everything during a viewing. This would be especially crucial if you were hoping to rent an apartment where a living space or terrace has a south-facing exposure to the sun or if the building is particularly vulnerable to winds or harsh weather that could make its maintenance difficult.
3. Take note of the shared spaces and amenities. For example, are there functional communal lights around the city building? What is the recycling and trash setup?
4. Even if you can’t tell from one or two apartment viewings what your neighbors will be like, you should be aware of warning signals (e.g., noise and mess near their front door or outside).
As soon as you enter the apartment…
1. Do you see any indications of moisture and dampness? Examine the walls, windows, and ceilings. Look for any signs of leaks, such as dark patches, curling wallpaper, blown plaster, decaying wooden frames, etc. Don’t overlook the season when you examine the property; moisture may be more difficult to detect in the warmer months.
2. Keep an eye on plumbing fixtures (turn on the faucet, locate and inspect the boiler). This is easy to overlook and a costly mistake to make.
3. Is there electricity, gas, or both in the apartment? How is it heated (particularly important for colder regions of France)?
4. Noise level and sound pollution are quite significant matters when looking for apartments. Is it possible to hear the nearby traffic or your neighbors? To what extent are rooms internally insulated from each other? Request a morning viewing if a city apartment is located on a busy route so you can hear the traffic noise.
5. Is the internet signal strong enough? In most cases, there will probably not be an issue.
6. A city apartment you are visiting may include a cellar. Roof terraces are also a possible bonus for apartments on the top level. Consider these expenses and maintenance as well.
7. Request to look at the apartment’s technical diagnostics or have a copy provided to you later. This form must include information on lead danger, asbestos, termites, natural, technological, mining risks, etc.
When all is said and done, pay attention to your intuition. Once all your boxes have been checked, follow your inner gut, initial thoughts, and lingering emotions. They seldom disappoint us when paired with some sound knowledge.
