Science Accueil is an organisation providing help for international researchers settling in Paris. It offers tailored suggestions of accommodation in English, as well as many other services. In particular, unlike normal renting in Paris, they do not ask for a guarantor. The majority of postdocs here use their services.

www.science-accueil.org

The majority of the accommodation renting in France is done via estate agencies. The market is very tight in Paris, and landowners tend to be very demanding. In particular, it is widespread behaviour to ask for proof of a good employment situation, and for a guarantor, i.e. someone who agrees to pay the landowner in the event where the tenant would be unable to do so.

• General housing advice for Paris from an outsider’s perspective: http://www.ags.edu/living-in-paris/housing
• CEA International Office advice (their price guide is a bit optimistic): http://internationaloffice.ceasaclay.com/spip.php?article54
• List of fairly accurate advice for flat-seaching as a foreigner: http://www.thelocal.fr/galleries/lifestyle/ten-tips-for-finding-a-flat-in-paris
• Another good article with useful advice, not just for students: http://www.thirdyearabroad.com/home/item/2121-finding-accommodation-paris.html

When discussing with landlords, letting agents etc. make it clear that you work for a CEA laboratory - almost everyone has heard of CEA and knows that they are reliable employers.

Ask your employer to provide you with a contract certificate (Attestation de contrat): a signed one page document that gives the dates of your employment. It can take a couple of weeks for this document to be provided by CEA from first request. Together with your actual contract, this works well to help convince potential landlords and agents that you are a reliable person.

When visiting accommodation, people bring a folder containing the documents needed for renting. Sort of thing you might want to include in a dossier d’information to show to potential landlords and agents (and naturally a photocopy for them to keep): sometimes they have a guarantor’s letter already signed, which would seem a bit forward in other countries. Other ideas for things to include are a letter (in French) explaining your hopes and dreams (for the apartment, and just generally), university certificates, bank statements or any other confidential documents in your possession. Just add it all in there - it can’t hurt (except later when you find one of the many landlords you have talked to was really an identity thief, and has cleared out your account)

French contracts for furnished accommodation can usually be cancelled at one months notice, unfurnished with three months notice. For someone arriving in France for the first time, it might be an idea to register with the accommodation services listed on this page to begin with, in order to find somewhere adequate for the first few months and then, after you have amassed a few French payslips and other official looking documents, embark on a new search if you are unhappy with your existing accommodation.

Electricity: EDF energy is the national supplier, though there are others. There is a step-by-step process to signing up for their services on their website. If you have any way of finding out the name of the previous occupant of your property, or better yet, can get a copy of the previous bill, this seems to smooth out the process of opening an account. EDF electricity has a English speaking helpline (it may take 20 minutes but don’t give up, they do usually answer in the end). http://www.edf.com/

Phone/Internet: Orange is the national supplier, though there is competition. I think that Orange is the only supplier that can reactivate a phone line that has lapsed out of service. However, any telecoms provider can open a phone account, if you have at least a dial tone from your phone. Once again, if you know the name or phone number of the previous occupant, this helps. Alternatively, if you look carefully outside your front door, there may be a little Telecom brass plaque with an ID number on it. You need a phone line to have ADSL internet, but not for fibre/cable internet. The competing telecom/internet providers include SFR, Free, Numericable and La Poste and they all have special offers from time to time. Most deals include an extra box for streaming TV shows, whether you want one or not.

Obviously the most painless way to find accommodation is via people already at the lab, so try sending a message to your IPhT contact, as you can get lucky if someone is just on the point of vacating their room or apartment when you arrive.

Pros: dealing directly with the private landlord of an apartment saves paying the heavy fees (up to one month’s rent) that an estate/letting agency will charge. Cons: the landlord will usually insist on seeing an employment contract before agreeing to the tenancy (which is a problem if the CEA won’t confirm when this contract will be ready…). Some private landlords are a bit suspicious of foreigners; property can go fast, particularly in Paris.

• www.pap.fr (seems to be the most popular)
• www.leboncoin.fr (also very well known)
• www.seloger.com
• www.avendrealouer.fr
• www.fusac.fr
• http://sabbaticalhomes.com
• Notice board with small adverts for local studio apartments in the foyer of building 308 on the main CEA site.

Pros: can be cheaper than finding a single studio apartment Cons: appartager.com is popular but charges a subscription fee to see all listings, the competition is sometimes heavy.

• www.colocation.fr
• www.appartager.com
• Flatshare notice board at the American Church in Paris

Pros: not too much trouble if rooms are available; normally don’t ask for a guarantor, often possible to stay for short term or long term periods. Cons: the services may take a few weeks after registration before they let you know if a room is available or not.

• There are residences dedicated to scientific researchers in Orsay and Palaiseau that are allocated by Science Accueil: www.science-accueil.org
• Cité Universitaire provides accommodation for researchers and students of any age in Paris close to the RER B: http://www.ciup.fr/en/houses/applying-for-housing/. They also offer some accommodation for families and a general advice service for newcomers to France: http://www.ciup.fr/en/access-en/
• www.residence-services.comadim.fr
• www.heberjeunes.fr
• www.aljt.com (studio apartments only for ⩽ 26 years (RJT buildings) and for 26 - 32 years (R’JAM buildings)
• www.cljt.com (studio apartments only for ⩽ 25 years)

• Orsay: Small town but with most services, few small bars, an arthouse cinema/theatre and a leisure centre. The transportation time to the CEA is about 20 minutes by public bus from the center and 15 minutes from Le Guichet (RER). You can also bike to the lab in 15-20 minutes, either along the road that passes by Le Guichet (longer but easier), or through the university (steeper). Part of these roads do not have bike lanes.
• Gif-Sur-Yvette: Another small town further down the valley that merges into Orsay. Has an RER station for connections to Le Guichet and Paris, and there’s a walking route to the CEA (allow about 30 minutes for the climb from the RER station).
• Palaiseau: There’s a frequent but rather crowded public bus (the 91-06) from Massy-Palaiseau RER station to the CEA that takes about 30 minutes, and also a bike path from the station.
• Sceaux: Nice town, near Parc de Sceaux and a greenway which takes you to Paris. Difficult (slow) RER B connection at Bourg la Reine to get to Le Guichet.
• Towns on RER Line B: keep in mind that the RER B trains stop at all stations in central Paris from Gare du Nord to Cité Universitaire, but that in the suburbs many express services only stop at Bourg-La-Reine, Antony, Massy-Palaiseau, Palaiseau, Palaiseau-Villebon and Lozere on the way to Le Guichet - you may need to change trains to get to and from other stations on the line.
• Paris: from the Denfert-Rochereau RER B station it takes about 45 minutes to reach the CEA by RER+bus if the connections work well, up to about 1:15 if everything goes badly (or occasionally much longer…), so about 1 hour travel time then. There’s also the CEA buses that leave from different parts of Paris such as Porte d'Orléans. So the Denfert-Rochereau/Porte d’Orleans/Cite Universitaire/Montrouge area is a popular place to live at.