Paris Relocation Service conducts a thorough search from its extensive network of contacts and material. We find suitable properties that match specifications from our own sources as well as many real estate agencies, private owners and institutional investors with whom we have regular contact. After consulting you about the various properties available, we then make all the necessary arrangements to view.

Time is money, we can save you both !

THE RELOCATION PROCESS

Your requirements

We send you our Arrival Questionnaire to be filled out with your personal details and your criteria for your new home. Once received we contact you by phone to go over in detail your requirements and explain to you the different possibilities on the rental market : the price per square meter in the different areas, the specifics of the areas, the proximity to transport, work and children’s school, food markets and restaurants etc.

Documents needed

We send you a list of documents we need to have from you and your company before starting the visits as well as an information document about renting in Paris.

In order to rent in Paris you need to earn at least 3 times (net of charges) the amount of the rent and not be under a probationary period. If not the owner can either refuse your application to rent or they will ask for some guarantees. The most common guarantees requested are either a bank guarantee which normally means one year’s rent in a closed account in a bank in France or a guarantee letter from your company which guarantees the payments of your rent and charges or a private guarantor who lives and receives his/her’s salary in France and earns between 3- 5 times the amount of the rent.

More and more private owners are taking out an insurance for non-payment of rent. In these policies the prospective tenant cannot be accepted while still under a  probationary period or having a temporary work contract, must earn 3 times the amount of the rent and having payed taxes in France from the previous year at least, also excluded are candidates who are international civil servant.

This is not applicable if the lease will be in your company’s name and if your company is registred in France. It is a much easier to secure a property if it is a company lease.

Banking

You will have to open a French bank account as soon as possible on arrival as the owner will ask to receive it together with the other documents. It will also be needed for the hook up of the internet and all other subscriptions. We can recommend a bank which has an « expat service » and where you will have an advisor who is English speaking and will make it easier for you to open an account. However for American citizens who do not have a principal residence in France and who do not receive their salaries payed in France there is a very complicated process to obtain a bank account in France.

House hunting

The research typically takes two to three days. The turnover on the rental market is very fast sometimes within 24 hours as there is a much bigger demand than offer so in most cases the research cannot start more than 3 days before the viewings. We use all media and private sources to make a slection of the best available apartments on the market which fit as close as possible your criteria.

We accompany you to visit the apartments and houses chosen, providing impartial analysis. We give you information about the area, schools, public transport etc. Timing is essential and, once you have seen a property that you like, we start negotiating straight away. We have your best interests at heart and do our utmost to achieve the best rental price before finalising an offer. Be aware that there are always other candidates looking for the same thing as you so when you see an apartment or house you really like a decision often will have to be made very quickly in order not to lose it to someone else.

Making the reservation

Once you have found your dream apartment we quickly send in the reservation with all your documents and any special requests you might have. We then wait for an answer from the owner. This can typically take a couple of days uptil around 10 days.

Rental contract

A furnished retnal contract/lease ir normally for one year, possible renewable every year.The cancellation time for the tenant is 1 month at any time and for the landlord 3 months before the end of the year lease.

An unfurnished rental lease is either for 3 years from a private landlord or 6 years from a company landlord. These leases can be cancelled by the tenant with 1 month’s notice at any time (in the big cities) and 6 months by the landlord before the end of the lease term.

We check the terms of the rental agreement and verify its legal validity. We then explain the terms to you and set up an appointment for the signature. We go over the different sums to be paid and in what form they can be paid.

Home insurance

We help you choose an appropriate insurance broker and subsequently arrange the General Tenancy Insurance cover with the Liability insurance which is mandatory in France. We have worked many years with the insurance brokers we recommend and in case of a claim they are very pro-activ. Once you have chosen an insurance policy and aigned the contract we will ask for the insurance certificate which is obligatory to give to the owner before the inspection in order to receive the keys.

Inventory

The day of the hand-over there will be an inspection and for a furnished property, also an inventory. This is often conducted by a legal representativ such as a bailiff or an expert.It can also just be with the owner or the real estate agency. We will always be present to represent you and to make sure everything is well noted. We much prefer that you also are present during the walkthrough. You will carefully keep this inspection document as you will need it for the out-inspection to compare and in order to get your reimbursement of your deposit.

Your installation after the signature

Hook up of utility services:
We make all the necessary arrangements for the utilities to be connected, such as electricity, gas, water etc. as well as maintenance contracts for the gasboiler.

Internet/TV/Phone:
We advice and help you with subscription to get the most interesting offers for you concerning internet/tv/phone. Sometimes the installation can be done in 24 hours but if something has gone wrong, for example if the technician cannot find your identity numbers corresponding to your new home this could be a complicated matter and can take upto one month in complex cases.