Before signing it, other things will have to be made, first:

An état des lieux will take place, and will allow to describe the accommodation conditions in a duplicate document at your arrival. At this stage, pay attention to everything. Because when you leave, another état des lieux will take place, and if there is any deterioration, it will be deducted from your deposit.

Regarding deposit, the amount charged for it equals two months' rent without service charges. This amount is kept by the landlord and he uses it for covering a damage you made and tto deduct expenses for repairing the flat after your departure.

Moreover, some owners will ask you to find a person who will stand surety, in case of fault from your part. This has got nothing to do with the deposit amount which you give the landlord at the beginning of the lease. This person will have to fill a number of conditions. First of all, he/she has to have the French nationality and earn a salary. You will have to provide his/her payslips, his/her identity card, and a writtencommitment.

Then only you can sign the lease in two copies and pay special attention to the period of notice.

The period of notice is the delay that separates the time you inform the landlord about your departureand the time of your real departure. For reasons of juridical proof, always inform the landlord always by letter with acknowledgement of receipt. So you will always have a proof of your good intentions.

Once these stages are finished, you must normally be at your place unpacking your big suitcase containing some sachets of "Mbouraké" or "Bissap" your mum slipped in when preparing your trip.

Then make sure your accommodation has water, electricity, gas and telephone option. If in need, contact the french electricity company, France Telecom, reagarding these vital and basic things. Addresses appear in " useful addresses " link.

You also have to get a home insurance against risks of flood, fire or thefts.To do so, make sure you get a student insurance company, prices vary between 15 euros and 75 euros, according to the type of your accommodation. In certain cases, this insurance can save your life, then it is strongly recommended.

In addition, it is necessary to think of ALS or APL. They are social security benefits, granted by the CAF. And depending on whether your flat is registered or not, you will have the right to the ALS or to APL. However it is a question of following procedures, you need to go to the CAF counter of your city, and ask for a file of APL or ALS. Then, you have to get some required documents. Among these documents:

The student card

The resident permit, or the resident permit receipt

Documents which evidence the place where you live (electriciy bill, or telephone bill, or your landlord's letter.

Evidence of your means during the previous year, in general "zero".

Once all these documents are gathered together, you have to put everything in the same place where you got them and and wait for the CAF to study your case and grant you some financial help with your rent. Remember that this help is given to you directly on your bank account or on the landlord's bank account, in the latter case you will only have to give him the rest of the rent every month.