1. Create you MSE account (Mes Services Étudiant) : ask for your INE number

1. Create my account here ; 
2. Read the guidelines here and here.

2. Apply for accomodation

1. Answer the following survey

3. Application endorsement

4. Housing allocation

When you receive the email : “un logement vous a été attribué” you have to follow the procedures :

• Fiche affectation CROUS
• Fiche modalités Dossier locatif CROUS

For all accommodation requests, please go directly to the CROUS reservation center at trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr

Please note that you will be asked to provide proof of income.

Students aged between 18 and 30 can take out a free Visale guarantee.

Another option is for your parents or a third party to act as your guarantor.

Conditions:

A guarantor must be a natural person resident in the Euro zone.
All documents must be translated into French
o Deed of guarantee completed and signed by the guarantor
o Proof of identity. Valid / See “Deed of guarantee” – Points A and B
o Proof of address. See “Deed of guarantee” – Point C
o Proof of professional activities. See “Deed of Guarantee” – Point D
o Proof of income. See “Deed of Guarantee” – Point E

Cf. “Deed of guarantee” – Point E / The guarantor must have a net income equal to or greater than three times the amount of the rent, including charges, for the entire time the student is in Crous residence.

Students have 7 days to complete their application, i.e. to submit at least one document (e.g. identity card or information sheet).

Once the rental application has been initiated, there is no further deadline for completing the other documents. This is particularly true for international students, as obtaining a visa is a prerequisite for access to Visale, which can take some time.

In practical terms, this means that students must provide all the supporting documents, including their Visa and Visale certificate, no later than the day they move in.

Stuedents should contact their residence to keep them informed of any changes in their situation.

You can transfer the payment link to a third party.

Find here information about insurance.

It is possible to withdraw from a reservation up to 31 August. The advance payment will be reimbursed if the deadline is met.

Your contract starts on September 1st. Residences generally open at the end of August. You should contact the residence to check whether accommodation is available a few days before the start of the school year and make an appointment.

If you move in before September 1st, you will have to pay the rent for the month of August pro rata to the number of days you occupy the property.

A link will be sent to you by the Crous at the end of the procedure for validating your rental file. You must make an appointment before you can move in.

If you are staying in a Crous residence, the easiest way is to pay your rent securely online at messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr. Using the same identifiers as those on your DSE, select the Cité’U section (then select your Crous). Once payment has been made, you will receive a confirmation email.

If they wish, students living in university halls of residence can also pay the rent for their accommodation by credit card, direct debit, cheque (bank or post office) or cash.

Rent is usually paid by the 12th of the month.

To help you pay your rent or rental deposit, there are various forms of financial assistance available, starting with housing benefit from the CAF and the Visale solution. To do this, you will need to download your resident’s certificate from the Cité’U online service.

Finally, in the case of non-student parents or tenants, it is also possible to pay the rent for university accommodation via a dedicated platform. Contact your Crous for details.

To change accommodation, you will need to apply directly to your hall of residence and apply for one of the accommodation options potentially available on the trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr website. A request to change accommodation does not automatically guarantee you a new home, given the limited availability.

Changes are made preferably from the 1st of the month. However, you can change accommodation from the 16th of the month if you wish. You should contact the Caf to find out how you can receive housing benefit.

If you are disabled and living in adapted accommodation, you should send your request for a change directly to the social services department of your Crous.

A wifi problem in your residence (*)? A water leak or electrical problem in your accommodation? Once again, your residence secretary is your best contact to help you make the most of your Crous residence. Don’t hesitate to contact them to report any incidents or malfunctions.

You can find a complete guide here (French version).

By subscribing a home insurance, at least for rental risks (the minimum required), you will be covered against damage resulting from fire, explosion or water damage. In most cases, your civil liability will also be insured, covering you in the event of damage caused to others. Civil liability is not always included in rental risk cover, so be sure to check this with your policy and your insurer.

However, with rental risk cover, your insurance will only cover damage to the home and/or building. Your possessions – computer, console, musical instruments, in short, anything that belongs to you – will not be covered.

Please note: it is not compulsory to take out an insurance policy for a furnished rental known as a ‘holiday rental’ (it is not your place of residence and you only stay there for a maximum of 90 days a year). However, it is advisable to insure your liability towards the owner.

Although insuring your home is an obligation, the choice of your insurance provider is up to you. Home insurance prices vary quite considerably, depending on the location of the flat, its size and the tenant’s capital (sum of the value of all the possessions).

To find a home insurance quote, you can go directly to the websites of insurance companies that offer simulations. There are several online solutions, for example: SMENO, Etud assur, HEYME, etc.

You can also visit the following offices:
– General insurance agent
– Insurance broker
– Insurance company
– Bank

Who insures the property in the case of a shared tenancy? -> At least one flatmate must be insured against rental risks. However, in the event of a claim, each flatmate will have to contribute to repairing the damage in proportion to their share of the rent.

What should I do in the event of a claim? -> You must contact your insurance company within 5 working days (48 hours in the event of theft) by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, stating your name, policy number, the date of the claim, the nature of the claim and a description of the damage.