House for Foreign Researchers – Accommodation

Priority is given to the foreign researchers hosted in the laboratories and research institutes members of our organization.

The flats are rented for short stays only (up to 6 months maximum) so that the foreign researchers can take his/her time to look for a permanent accommodation and to ensure that he or she settles in well at a local level.

If you wish to book this type of accommodation, you cannot do so directly. Bookings for accommodation are made through laboratory director. The request can be addressed via mail or post and must include:

• a booking form, filled-in with all the details needed – download form here
• a document which certifies that the stay will be financed, in which appears the amount of the salary or allowance.e la rémunération ou allocation

Only fully completed files will be dealt with. 

The laboratory or the researcher will have to confirm the arrival date at least one week before the start of the reservation.

Arrival is possible on appointment only Monday to Friday from 9am until 12am, and from 2pm til 3:30pm, so that all administrative paperwork can be sorted out: 300€ deposit to be given, delivery of the keys, renting lease to be signed, inventory.

KEYS WILL ONLY BE GIVEN IN EXCHANGE FOR THE 300€ DEPOSIT (300€ by cash or French cheque).

In case the researcher is late or arrives outside these hours, the lab must get in touch in advance with Marie GUILLET, the manager of the flats (cl.la-maison-des-chercheurs@fac-habitat.com), to agree on a suitable time, so that someone from the lab or institute can come and get the keys, on condition the inventory and deposit formalities are completed (300€ deposit).

Mandatory deposit: 300€ to be given when the keys are handed out. It is not cashed for very short stays (one month or less). Given back when leaving the flat, according to the departure inventory.

Prices from September, 1st 2022 to August, 31st 2023 (tourist tax not included):

Tourist tax : calculated at the rate of 5% of the one-night-rent price per person, excluding VAT (capped at 4.30€).

Thus its cost will vary depending on the length of stay, the number of inhabitants and the type of flat rented.

For your information:

• on the basis of the studio flat monthly rent price : 0.98€ per night for one person
• on the basis of the one-bedroom flat monthly rent price : 1.29€ per night for one person / 0.86€ for a couple with one child
• for fixed-prices (one or two weeks) this tax will also vary on the same principal ( e.g. : a single person staying 10 days in a studio flat will pay this tax 1.47€ per night)

Means of payment: Credit card not accepted. You must pay the deposit and your rent by cash or French cheque. For your rent only, a bank transfer is possible each beginning of month. No payment in advance possible. Banknotes of 500€ are not accepted (as in most shops). No December rent payment by purchase order possible.

The flats are eligible to CAF (housing benefits). The form “Attestation de loyer” from the housing benefit application should be retrieved as blank version from CAF services: the manager will fill it out properly.

Other services: 

• Breakfast (except during summer): 8,10€ NOT AVAILABLE DURING THE PANDEMIC
• Extra housecleaning: 25,30€
• Washing and drying machine coins: 3,10€ (Washing and drying machines available on the 3rd floor).

It is possible to get extra linen: please ask the manager for tariffs.

The price includes: water, electricity, international satellite TV, internet connexion (EDUROAM) ; also weekly housecleaning; kitchen and crockery kit; weekly change of sheets and towels; access to the multimedia lounge, cafeteria and conference rooms;

Presence of the organisation Chercheurs Étrangers à Nantes (Foreign Researchers in Nantes) on the ground floor.

The price does not include: tourist tax per night and per person (over 18).

Fees for opening a telephone landline: 10,50 € and calls are to be paid for by the lodger.

For large flats (T2), departure is only possible during working days from Monday to Friday in the morning from 8:30 to 10AM.

Here is a list to help you start looking for accommodation. They are in order of the most visited and updated websites.

www.leboncoin.fr
www.seloger.com
www.ouestfrance-immo.com
www.pap.fr
www.lokaviz.fr (for PhD students registered in France)
www.infos-jeunes.fr/annonce-logement
www.locservice.fr
www.paruvendu.fr
www.franceimmobilier.com
www.sabbaticalhomes.com

For finding flatmates:
www.colocation.fr
www.appartager.com
www.lacartedescolocs.fr

Websites similar to airbnb :
www.pretalouer.fr
www.bedycasa.fr
www.airbnb.fr

Bedroom at a private lodger
www.roomlala.com

Residence for young professionals :
www.urhajpaysdelaloire.fr

We advise you to read the Housing Guide for international researchers by EURAXESS France, and also the website www.studyinfrance.net done by Erasmus Nantes for international students.

Accommodations are generally of good quality but it can be difficult to find a flat especially from September til December.

You will be asked for a guarantor most of the time (except for aparthotels) and it’s mandatory when you rent a flat with a real estate agency. Visale can act as garantor for your rental : more information and eligibility criteria on their website: https://www.visale.fr/#!/

Be careful with the rent, do check if “charges” (utilities) are included or not. “Charges” are additional fees like electricity, water, internet, cleaning of the common areas. The landlord has to inform you about the monthly amount of “charges”.  Depending on the size of the flat, it can be estimated between 60€ and 120€. Some examples of renting prices:

• studio flat (around 20/25 m2), 300/400€ per month without “charges”
• a flat with a separate bedroom (around 35/45m2), 500/600€ per month without “charges”

Two meeting rooms can be booked by labs and researchers. One is for 10-12 people and the other for up to 22 people. Bookings are free for any institution member of the association.