01
Orient yourself
Application windows, room types, rent ranges and what the allocation process looks like.
France Student Hub
Housing
Housing & Domiciliation
Navigate the French student housing market, from public CROUS residences to private rentals. Understand guarantor requirements, how to establish proof of address, and what to do if you arrive without a fixed address.
General information only — not official guidance. Rules change, so confirm with the official source before you act.
New service
Find accommodation
Browse student-friendly rentals with the details that matter most: rent, middleman service fees, CAF eligibility, Visale support, minimum stay, address and photos added by admins.
Built for confident decisions
CAF + Visale
Key eligibility signals
Admin curated
Details checked before publishing
Curated for students
Available accommodation
Admin-reviewed details
No accommodation listings have been published yet. Admins can add rentals from the dashboard.
New concierge service
Book a room viewer
Not in France yet? Request a trusted person to visit a room on your behalf, check the essentials and report back with practical notes.
Sign in to request a room visit. Sign in or create an account.
Guides
Key topics in housing & domiciliation
Each topic gives you the essentials, what to prepare and an official source to check before you act.
Public
CROUS student residences
Application windows, room types, rent ranges and what the allocation process looks like.
Last verified 18 May 2026Official source: trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr
Private
Private student residences
An alternative to CROUS, these offer furnished studios with various services (laundry, internet, gym). Deposits are typically higher, but the application process is often faster and more straightforward for international students.
Guarantor
Visale guarantor scheme
The free state-backed guarantor service that acts as your 'garant' for private rentals. This is the most common and recommended solution for students without a family member or contact in France who can act as a guarantor.
Last verified 18 May 2026Official source: visale.fr
Rental file
DossierFacile
A free government service that helps you create a standardized, verified, and secure rental application file ('dossier de location'). This digital file is trusted by landlords and helps you stand out.
Last verified 18 May 2026Official source: dossierfacile.logement.gouv.fr
The rental process step by step
A detailed walkthrough of the rental journey: from visiting properties and preparing your application file ('dossier') to signing the lease ('bail'), conducting the entry inventory ('état des lieux'), securing home insurance, and paying the security deposit.
Safety
Avoiding housing scams
Red flags: payment before visit, no lease, pressure tactics, and off-platform transfers.
Proof of address (justificatif de domicile)
A critical document for all French administration. Learn which documents (e.g., lease, utility bill, 'attestation d'hébergement') are officially accepted and how to obtain one quickly after arrival.
Attestation d'hébergement
A formal letter from a host confirming they are housing you. Understand when it's used (e.g., for visa validation, bank account) and what documents must accompany it (host's ID and proof of address).
No address?
Domiciliation, including free options
How to get an official administrative address from a CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale) or specific student support associations when you don't have a permanent lease, allowing you to open a bank account and access other rights.
Use this guide
How to work through housing & domiciliation
Start with the decisions that affect your route, get your documents in order, then confirm the latest rule with the official source before submitting or paying for anything.
02
Prepare deliberately
Use the checklist to organise documents, dates and decisions before you start a time-sensitive step.
03
Verify before acting
Use the dated official links on this page to confirm the process for your nationality, institution and situation.
Your checklist
- Apply to CROUS as early as the calendar allows
- Create a Visale guarantee before visiting flats
- Build a complete DossierFacile file
- Never pay a deposit before a visit and a signed lease
- Take dated photos at the état des lieux
- Subscribe to home insurance before moving in
Frequently asked
Latest updates
What changed recently in housing & domiciliation
These short updates highlight recent rule, deadline or process changes that are worth checking before you apply or renew.
CROUS
Medium impact
Sample: CROUS housing application window extended in some regions
Extra time to complete an accommodation request in selected académies.
Affects: Applicants for student residences
Official source: etudiant.gouv.frHousing
Medium impact
Sample: guarantor scheme eligibility clarified for international students
Clarified conditions for obtaining a free rental guarantee.
Affects: Students renting privately
Official source: visale.frCROUS
Medium impact
Sample: returning students get a clearer CROUS file renewal reminder
A reminder to update the student social file before the new cycle opens.
Affects: Students applying for campus housing again
Official source: etudiant.gouv.frKeep going
Related guides
Sources & disclaimer
France Student Hub publishes general information only. It is not legal advice and does not replace an official decision from an administration, consulate or institution. Every page shows when it was last checked and links to the official source so you can verify before you act.
If a rule affects your status, confirm it with the relevant official body or a qualified professional before you act on it.