Renting in Lyon

Hello Mark.

Welcome to Expat.com!

I hope other members will be able to help you.

Thank you,
Aurélie

Hello Mark,
As an American who moved to Lyon in May, I can empathize. I had the same problem - not having French pay stubs to show or a work contract. I being married to a French citizen doesn't make life easier either. The French LOVE paperwork so the more "justificatifs" you can present, the more comfortable they are.

You will have very little luck looking for an apt through a real estate agency. You will have much more luck looking for an apt from another "particulier" (directly from the owner), but it will all depend each owner's comfort level. If you speak French, you will have more chances of success too.  I presented bank statements from the U.S. as documentation, my French visa and marriage papers. Our landlady was very open, allowing us not to have a guarantor but I think she was an exception. Likely you will need to show bank statements, guarantor, work contract from the English firm, and some kind of visa to show you will not just take off at any time.

Your best chance for finding an apt from a "particulier" is on leboncoin.fr.

I hope this helps a little. If you have more questions, let me know!
Michelle

Thanks very much Michelle for your advice. I think you're right, and we're going to have to just cross our fingers and find the right landlord and apartment. Thankfully my better half speaks French and i'm learning as quick as i can!

I'll check out that site and see where it goes.

Do you have any advice on different areas of the city and where might be good to look for finding a place. Preferably i'd like to live somewhere central without paying through the nose, but i guess the more central you are, the more expensive, so we'll see.

Thanks again

Mark

Hi Mark !

Michelle is right, you should definitely start seeking with leboncoin.fr

If ever you were not to find any owner who would understand your situation, you could always try furnished condos, during the very first weeks/months. You pay for those apartments as if they where hotel rooms, so no "justificatifs" shall be asked for.

It is nice to live in the 1rst, 4th and 6th "arrondissements" : these areas are quite lively and very central. If you want to browse sites to have a piece of idea of the average rents, zip codes are 69001, 69004 and 69006.

Anyhow, a lot of places are nice in Lyon. Inside one "arrondissement", you can find different atmospheres, different neighborhoods....

My advice : it is ok as long as you specifically avoid Rue St Catherine, Rue Désirée and Rue Romarin. They are really noisy. Try also to stay away from the Bellecombe district : you will feel like you live far away from everything.

Let me know if I can help you with anything else

Actually, both the owner and the renter have to get an insurance. The owner's is for the apartment itself, and the renter's protects furniture, Hi-Fi, computers, jewelry.... etc.

Thank you Violette. I have just come back onto the post I started, as I am now in Lyon, looking for places to rent.

Fingers crossed I will find something soon, and I will take all the advice you gave me.

Many thanks

Mark