How can you tell if an offer is too good to be true?
These ads are usually easy to spot: professional photos, low rent, no contact phone number.
A rental offer should be both clear and attractive, and include the following information:
- a title with the most important information: type of accommodation (flat, house or other), number of rooms (large studio, one bedroom, two bedrooms, etc. Please note: these are usually expressed as T1, T2, T3, etc. in French ads).
- surface area in square metres. The location may also be given, e.g. name of the neighbourhood in which the flat or house is located;
- amount of rent mentioned underneath.
Example: Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, T4 85m² / Loyer 1300€ (the word “loyer” means “rent”); the rent is usually mentioned at the bottom of the ad on most websites, but not in the same line as the title.
Did you know? A room with a surface area of less than 9 square metres is not considered as a true rental and will not be eligible for housing benefits
Be wary of scams
Never hand over any payment in cash and do not pay any rent or deposit before you have visited the accommodation and signed the rental agreement. Here are a few examples of cases that should set alarm bells ringing:
- An estate agent offers you a list of properties or contacts in exchange for a sum of money: do not accept;
- An ad on a website catches your eye and the contact person asks you to pay some money before the visit: do not answer, and if you can, report the ad as fraudulent.
Never accept the services of a person offering to sell you a “list of properties” in exchange for money, but with no guarantee of finding accommodation.
Housing and journey times
Don’t underestimate the time it will take to travel from your home to your place of study.
Did you know? Tisséo, the public transport network in Toulouse and its surrounding area, makes daily life easier with a website specially geared to students! For more information: Public transport with Tisséo: the website specially for students.
A problem? A question about housing?
Check out the following websites:
Access useful information about how to prepare your housing search.
