Getting an Apartment in Paris, Part 1
LA VIE: It’s been a few months since I landed in the “City of Light” and one of the fastest lessons I learned is getting an apartment is harder than winning the lottery!
My employer hired a relocation company to assist in my apartment search. I was overtly excited about seeing some “flats (as they are commonly called in Europe) and living my fictional House Hunters International experience.
Quickly, I learned the process would take a "wee bit longer” than I anticipated and I learned a lot.
Expats are viewed differently than local Parisians, so to search for a flat, I needed proof I am eligible to work in France. My temporary Visa was already in process, yet I needed to have in addition to my passport.
Another item to contend with is getting a French bank account, which I could not open until I had proof I am eligible work in France (minimum requirement). There are other documents I could provide, however there were specific ones that assured me the process would go smoothly.
Aside from a letter my employer gave me, the bank required a few additional documents… which of course, were “being process.”
To rent a flat, most landlords want proof of France residency (which is why I need a place to live, right?). I needed both the French bank account and proof of eligibility to work in France. Hence, I was set up in temporary housing by my employer.
Initially, I could not set up the bank account because I needed a residence (see a trend?) Luckily, my employer allowed me to use the work address… which I needed another letter to prove they gave me permission to use their address.
About a month into the process, I was highly eager to start looking at flats. I was cautioned that I if I found a flat, I could not sign a lease without the bank account RIB and other requirements. A RIB (Relevé d'Identité Bancaire) contains your bank details and is similar to setting up a EFT (electronic funds transfer). So, I chose to set up an International bank account that links the French account with a U.S. account… and another lengthy process begins!
What’s coming in part 2? The bureaucratic process to set up a bank account and the first round of “unusual” flat searches.
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À bientôt