Moving to Lyon

[HP]

Hi, I am going to be moving to work in Lyon for 1 year with my family (husband and 3 children) and am looking for a long term rental from September 09. We would ideally like a house with garden and to be situated to the north of the city or in one of the surrounding towns but not more than 20 mins drive from Caluire et Cuire. Does anyone know the best way of finding something to rent for this period of time? Any ideas appreciated, thanks.

[The Ps]

Try www.seloger.com and you will find various properties listed and/or agents that can help.   You can specify geography and type to narrow the search and then arrange a series of viewings with people but be warned that some agents will tell you you are looking too soon.   Don't expect necessarily to be able to rent a place with a kitchen or bathroom in situ; it may have been taken by the previous renters and you will be expected to fit your own and then take it with you.   Some places will have kitchens and bathrooms as standard.  

You will also have to jump through hoops to prove you can pay, have an income etc.   This will then be assessed by an insurance company who will decide if you are viable renters and if not then you may want to suggest a caution bancaire arrangement but you will need a French bank account for this.   A caution bancaire is an account you set you and put into it an amount agreed with your landlord (3 to 12 months rent perhaps - 4 to 6 is the norm) that you will not be able to touch and neither will your landlord unless you default on payments.   You earn interest on the money whilst it is tied up.   You would need a French account anyway to pay your utilities.

Alternatively, you take a holiday let on a long term basis but the owner would want far more than you would pay by renting from the French rental market to make up for losses at peak times.   The benefits are that they would be furnished well by comparison and generally are well kept.   Bear in mind in your negotiations on such a property that the owner will not have to finance change overs with the cleaning and laundry costs involved.