The average cost of renting in France?

[blackcat]

We've been advised its best to sell our property in the UK and have euros in the bank for our french purchase. We would like to move and rent in France whilst we are looking to make things easier.

Ive checked the internet and all I can seem to find is expensive holiday lets.

As we are going to making a cash purchase in France we are concerned about our level of funds going down whilst we are looking for a house to buy whilst also seeking work.

Does anyone have any experience or advice in this matter?

Many thanks

 

 

[ali-cat]

Weekly holiday tariffs will be very much reduced for long-term rentals.  You would really need to contact owners to find out what the rate would be - but it should be much lower than the weekly rent you will see advertised on most of the sites.

We rented for 6 months when we arrived & I would strongly advise anyone to rent before buying a property.  It could save you a lot of money in the long run, rather than rushing in & buying the wrong house, in the wrong location & regretting it.

If you want any of the internet sites I used, please PM me - but a google search for "long-term rentals, in France" will give you hundreds of hits. [:)]

[Patf]

Another way to find somewhere is to go to a small town in your chosen area and visit the local immobiliers. For example in Mirande, our nearest  town, there are about 5 estate agents. You can get a small house to rent (à louer) for 4 to 600€ per month.

[NormanH]

There are loads of French sites with   " immobilier -location".and it helps with te vocabulary you will need  later

for example

http://www.fnaim.fr/

http://location.binioo.com/

You can also search the small ads all over France (a bit more complicated)

on

http://www.paruvendu.fr/immobilier/

[Albert the InfoGipsy]

The national Immo sites generally offer the option to filter by departement. You may find this map useful:

http://www.drimmo.com/carte.php

Another Immo site you could try is http://www.logic-immo.com

Fortunately French estate agent details are not as full of weird abbreviations as British ones. No "des res with all mod cons". They also (usually) state the floor area in square metres. A square metre (m2) is roughly 10 square feet and a 2 bed house or flat would probably be about 60 m".

[Patf]

I've just read the next thread on here, about the need to provide references and proof of income to immos. in order to rent a house. Just to say I know two british familes who managed to rent in this way, so they must have satisfied the immo, or landlord.

[blackcat]

I never thought about proof of income. We would be arriving with just our savings with the intention of looking for work whilst we were there. We will also have our mums with us, in total 7 people inc 3 children. Mums are retired but with savings, all we'd be able to show them were our bank statements, mums pension statements etc, but we'd only be looking for a short term let.

It seems that the size of property we'd be looking to rent would be about 1500 euros a month. Im very reluctant to use our savings for this when we will collectively have the cash for a property to buy. But to try and fnd a property in France whilst we are still living in the UK seems like a lot of aggravation. We know where we want to live and have a few trips over there planned in the coming months. Really not sure whats best to do financially.

If we could secure work for my husband before we went that would pay the rent without denting the money we've put aside for the purchase, but he's not fluent and not good on the phone so thought might be best to wait until we got there.

 

 

 

 

[Tressy]

[quote user="sara77"]...If we could secure work for my husband before we went that would pay the rent without denting the money we've put aside for the purchase, but he's not fluent and not good on the phone so thought might be best to wait until we got there.[/quote]

Hi Sara.[:)]

I realise you've been doing a lot of research as I've read your other thread, but the work issue might be better looked at sooner rather than later. It's unlikely your OH will be able to earn the amount you think you'll need just for rent, without fluent French.

What region are you hoping to move to?

[Benjamin]

A lot of French people don't even earn 1.500€ a month.

[Tressy]

[quote user="Benjamin"]A lot of French people don't even earn 1.500€ a month.[/quote]

There's a site somewhere (out there) that gives the average household income by Commune. I know the average for ours is way less than that.

 

 

[Cat]

It's this one Tressy http://www.linternaute.com/ville/

EDIT: the average household income here is 1124€ per month, and that's (obviously) for fluent French speaking French people.

[Tressy]

Thanks Cat. I've bookmarked it now![:)]

Just over 800E per month is the average household income in our rural commune. Unemployment is 10%, which isn't bad compared to other rural communes nearby that I've looked at.

[Cat]

Oh err, well spotted Tressy, I've edited my post [:$]

[NormanH]

I certainly never did!

You can see average salaries here:

http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/chifcle_fiche.asp?ref_id=NATSEF04143&tab_id=617

[blackcat]

Yes, I realise that the income potential is not there, which is my point about asking how much it costs to rent. If we have cash in the bank to buy a house I now dont think renting is going to be a good idea for us as it maybe a long while before my husband and I find some work. Even though there will be four adults and we will all pitch in with our bit out of our savings, I would still rather preserve as much cash as possible.

If my husband continues to work in the UK for a long as possible where he is able to earn his full potential in his trade then I think maybe me and the mums will be making as many trips to France as possible to check out properties. If may even be necessary for him to commute to the UK as a last resort. But I guess this is a subject for another forum!

Someone asked where we are looking, We are currently aiming for the South West region (for now). Somewhere near Bergerac airport incase hubby needs to keep flying in and out. The properties seem reasonable round that area (only from what Ive seen on the net, if anyone knows different please enlighten me!) and theres a couple of schools with a reasonable amount of British children in which will be good for our kids and not let them feel too isolated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Moorejw]

Prices vary enormously in the different areas. You can rent a gite out of season if it is equipped for winter lets (heating etc.) We rent our 3 bedroom gite in the winter to house hunters and there are lots of web sites that specialise in longer term lets.

[blackcat]

Thanks, holiday let in the Winter is a great idea. Ive posed it to the others and they all agree. A plan at last!

Much appreciated. Sara

 

[sprit]

Certainly you will do better to do a winter let - usually September to May. Try www.rentaplaceinfrance.com which is specific for winter lets. You may need to look into flights to UK a little bit more as Bergerac (for one) tends to stop flights from about November to March which has been a real pain for a lot of people.

[Moulin Neuf]

Please look at  your email box - look at www.holiday-rentals.co.uk 

Jan Ingram

 

 

[Ian]

I'm looking for a rental property too.  This website throws up quite a few good uns!

http://www.seloger.com/

Also I have found that the local paper is a good source of small classified ads.  My local paper has a website (find yours by Googling).  These 2 line descriptions don't tell you much - you'll need to just sit there with a phone and a notepad full of questions and get dialling.

As to local rents - ask local people (renters).  And while €1,500 a month is more than many people earn (we all know that 60ish% of the world get by on $2 a day or less) it is also about the going rate for a modest 3 bed flat (or spruced up 2 bed) in a good part of town in Nice.  The local market will set the "correct" price.

I've noticed that fair priced quality rental properties (in populous areas) don't stay vacant for long. So while properties for sale are sticking a bit in the current real estate market don't linger too long over a good rental.

Best of luck.

[Just Katie]

Hello Blackcat,

On the subject of work for your husband, I commuted to France from UK working part time for a numer of months.  I found it quite easy to do.  Is your husband in an occupation where he could undertake consultancy work in the UK? Or even work part time?  I know maybe this would not be ideal for you, but it is a feasible plan B.

Oh, and with regards to renting from agencies, beware of the fees